Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Equity [Abstract]

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, which is included as a component of Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity, are as follows (in millions, with amounts in parentheses representing decreases to accumulated other comprehensive income):

	Derivative Instruments			Available- for-Sale Securities		Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Post- Retirement Benefit Plans			Total
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	(61	)	$	10	$	84		$	(10	)	$	23
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications net of tax expense (benefit) of $8, $1, $0 and $0, respectively		13			1		(68	)		—			(54	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss net of tax (expense) benefit of $(5), $0, $0 and $0, respectively		(8	)		—		5			—			(3	)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)		5			1		(63	)		—			(57	)
Balance, June 30, 2015	$	(56	)	$	11	$	21		$	(10	)	$	(34	)

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Reclassifications Associated with Cash Flow Derivative Instruments

The amounts of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications associated with our cash flow derivative instruments are as follows (in millions):

	Amount of Derivative Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)
	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges	2015			2014			2015			2014
Forward-starting interest rate swaps	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(8	)
Foreign currency derivatives		(3	)		(12	)		21			(2	)
Electricity commodity derivatives		—			2			—			(8	)
Total before tax		(3	)		(10	)		21			(18	)
Tax (expense) benefit		1			4			(8	)		7
Net of tax	$	(2	)	$	(6	)	$	13		$	(11	)

Reclassification of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income with Cash Flow Derivative Instruments

The amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income associated with our cash flow derivative instruments are as follows (in millions, with amounts in parentheses representing debits to the statement of operations classification):

	Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income												Statement of Operations Classification
	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
Detail About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	2015			2014			2015			2014
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Forward-starting interest rate swaps	$	(2	)	$	(4	)	$	(5	)	$	(5	)	Interest expense
Treasury rate locks		—			—			(3	)		(1	)	Interest expense
Foreign currency derivatives		(5	)		(13	)		21			—		Other, net
Electricity commodity derivatives		—			—			—			(9	)	Operating revenues
		(7	)		(17	)		13			(15	)	Total before tax
		3			7			(5	)		6		Tax (expense) benefit
Total reclassifications for the period	$	(4	)	$	(10	)	$	8		$	(9	)	Net of tax