Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 30	$ 32	$ 104	$ 39
Other current assets	2,193	2,344
Total current assets	2,223	2,376
Property and equipment, net	10,929	10,950
Other assets	7,498	7,533
Total assets	20,650	20,859
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	396	417
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,162	2,377
Total current liabilities	2,558	2,794
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,646	8,893
Other liabilities	3,908	3,852
Total liabilities	15,112	15,539
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,517	5,297
Noncontrolling interests	21	23
Total equity	5,538	5,320
Total liabilities and equity	20,650	20,859
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Investments in affiliates	(40,953)	(40,255)
Advances to affiliates	(13,389)	(13,000)
Total assets	(54,342)	(53,255)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(19,164)	(18,777)
Total liabilities	(19,164)	(18,777)
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(40,953)	(40,255)
Advances to affiliates	5,775	5,777
Total equity	(35,178)	(34,478)
Total liabilities and equity	(54,342)	(53,255)
WM [Member]
Current assets:
Other current assets	4	5
Total current assets	4	5
Investments in affiliates	20,267	19,924
Other assets	14	14
Total assets	20,285	19,943
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	255	269
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	61	81
Total current liabilities	316	350
Long-term debt, less current portion	6,027	6,229
Due to affiliates	13,712	13,350
Other liabilities	12	16
Total liabilities	20,067	19,945
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,517	5,297
Advances to affiliates	(5,299)	(5,299)
Total equity	218	(2)
Total liabilities and equity	20,285	19,943
WM Holdings [Member]
Current assets:
Other current assets	5	5
Total current assets	5	5
Investments in affiliates	20,686	20,331
Other assets	36	30
Total assets	20,727	20,366
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	4	9
Total current liabilities	4	9
Long-term debt, less current portion	304	304
Due to affiliates	153	128
Total liabilities	461	441
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	20,266	19,925
Total equity	20,266	19,925
Total liabilities and equity	20,727	20,366
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	30	32	$ 104	$ 39
Other current assets	2,184	2,334
Total current assets	2,214	2,366
Property and equipment, net	10,929	10,950
Advances to affiliates	13,389	13,000
Other assets	7,448	7,489
Total assets	33,980	33,805
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	141	148
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,097	2,287
Total current liabilities	2,238	2,435
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,315	2,360
Due to affiliates	5,299	5,299
Other liabilities	3,896	3,836
Total liabilities	13,748	13,930
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	20,687	20,330
Advances to affiliates	(476)	(478)
Noncontrolling interests	21	23
Total equity	20,232	19,875
Total liabilities and equity	$ 33,980	$ 33,805