Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income	$ 268	$ 230	$ 440	$ 373
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	12	12	21	20
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	256	218	419	353
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income	(495)	(604)	(1,062)	(1,053)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	(495)	(604)	(1,062)	(1,053)
WM [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income	213	252	437	422
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	213	252	437	422
WM Holdings [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income	262	299	543	521
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	262	299	543	521
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income	288	283	522	483
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	12	12	21	20
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 276	$ 271	$ 501	$ 463