Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating revenues	$ 3,548	$ 3,360	$ 10,149	$ 9,715
Costs and expenses	2,988	2,759	8,470	8,172
Income from operations	560	601	1,679	1,543
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(94)	(95)	(282)	(294)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(4)	(552)
Other, net	(9)	(10)	(81)	(34)
Total other income (expense)	(103)	(105)	(367)	(880)
Income (loss) before income taxes	457	496	1,312	663
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	153	159	466	184
Consolidated net income	304	337	846	479
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	2	(1)	(1)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	302	335	847	480
Eliminations [Member]
Other income (expense):
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	(701)	(759)	(1,981)	(1,900)
Total other income (expense)	(701)	(759)	(1,981)	(1,900)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(701)	(759)	(1,981)	(1,900)
Consolidated net income	(701)	(759)	(1,981)	(1,900)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	(701)	(759)	(1,981)	(1,900)
WM [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(77)	(72)	(227)	(226)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(1)	(500)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	349	378	986	929
Total other income (expense)	272	306	758	203
Income (loss) before income taxes	272	306	758	203
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(30)	(29)	(89)	(277)
Consolidated net income	302	335	847	480
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	302	335	847	480
WM Holdings [Member]
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(5)	(5)	(15)	(17)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(52)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	352	381	995	971
Total other income (expense)	347	376	980	902
Income (loss) before income taxes	347	376	980	902
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(2)	(2)	(6)	(27)
Consolidated net income	349	378	986	929
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	349	378	986	929
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating revenues	3,548	3,360	10,149	9,715
Costs and expenses	2,988	2,759	8,470	8,172
Income from operations	560	601	1,679	1,543
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(12)	(18)	(40)	(51)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(3)
Other, net	(9)	(10)	(81)	(34)
Total other income (expense)	(21)	(28)	(124)	(85)
Income (loss) before income taxes	539	573	1,555	1,458
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	185	190	561	488
Consolidated net income	354	383	994	970
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	2	(1)	(1)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 352	$ 381	$ 995	$ 971