Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,425	$ 3,315	$ 6,601	$ 6,355
Costs and expenses	2,814	2,813	5,482	5,413
Income from operations	611	502	1,119	942
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(93)	(95)	(188)	(199)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(3)	(2)	(4)	(552)
Other, net	(56)	(16)	(72)	(24)
Total other income (expense)	(152)	(113)	(264)	(775)
Income (loss) before income taxes	459	389	855	167
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	173	116	313	25
Consolidated net income	286	273	542	142
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(1)	(3)	(3)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	287	274	545	145
Eliminations [Member]
Other income (expense):
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	(669)	(637)	(1,280)	(1,141)
Total other income (expense)	(669)	(637)	(1,280)	(1,141)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(669)	(637)	(1,280)	(1,141)
Consolidated net income	(669)	(637)	(1,280)	(1,141)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	(669)	(637)	(1,280)	(1,141)
WM [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(76)	(75)	(150)	(154)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		(2)	(1)	(500)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	333	320	637	551
Total other income (expense)	257	243	486	(103)
Income (loss) before income taxes	257	243	486	(103)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(30)	(31)	(59)	(248)
Consolidated net income	287	274	545	145
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	287	274	545	145
WM Holdings [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Costs and expenses		(6)
Income from operations		6
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(5)	(5)	(10)	(12)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(52)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	336	317	643	590
Total other income (expense)	331	312	633	526
Income (loss) before income taxes	331	318	633	526
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(2)	(2)	(4)	(25)
Consolidated net income	333	320	637	551
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	333	320	637	551
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,425	3,315	6,601	6,355
Costs and expenses	2,814	2,819	5,482	5,413
Income from operations	611	496	1,119	942
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(12)	(15)	(28)	(33)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(3)		(3)
Other, net	(56)	(16)	(72)	(24)
Total other income (expense)	(71)	(31)	(103)	(57)
Income (loss) before income taxes	540	465	1,016	885
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	205	149	376	298
Consolidated net income	335	316	640	587
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(1)	(3)	(3)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 336	$ 317	$ 643	$ 590