Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Equity [Abstract]

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), 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, 2015	$	(52	)	$	8	$	(75	)	$	(8	)	$	(127	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(4), $1, $0 and $0, respectively		(7	)		2		51			—			46
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax (expense) benefit of $11, $0, $0 and $0, respectively		18			—		—			—			18
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)		11			2		51			—			64
Balance, September 30, 2016	$	(41	)	$	10	$	(24	)	$	(8	)	$	(63	)

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Reclassifications Associated with the Effective Portion of Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges

The amounts of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications associated with the effective portion of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are as follows (in millions):

	Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015			2016			2015
Foreign currency derivatives	$	—	$	23		$	(11	)	$	44
Tax (expense) benefit		—		(9	)		4			(17	)
Net of tax	$	—	$	14		$	(7	)	$	27

Reclassification of Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Associated with Cash Flow Hedges

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

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,						Statement of Operations  Classification
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Forward-starting interest rate swaps	$	(2	)	$	(4	)	$	(8	)	$	(9	)	Interest expense, net
Treasury rate locks		(1	)		—			(1	)		(3	)	Interest expense, net
Foreign currency derivatives		—			19			(20	)		40		Other, net
		(3	)		15			(29	)		28		Total before tax
		1			(6	)		11			(11	)	Tax (expense) benefit
Total reclassifications for the period	$	(2	)	$	9		$	(18	)	$	17		Net of tax