Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 3,677	$ 3,425	$ 7,117	$ 6,601
Costs and expenses:
Operating	2,290	2,130	4,456	4,123
Selling, general and administrative	353	340	743	702
Depreciation and amortization	356	340	684	652
Restructuring	1	2	2	4
Expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items, net	4	2	1	1
Total costs and expenses	3,004	2,814	5,886	5,482
Income from operations	673	611	1,231	1,119
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(90)	(93)	(182)	(188)
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities	(13)	(16)	(45)	(23)
Other, net		(43)		(53)
Total other income (expense)	(103)	(152)	(227)	(264)
Income (loss) before income taxes	570	459	1,004	855
Income tax expense	209	173	346	313
Consolidated net income	361	286	658	542
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(1)	(2)	(3)
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 362	$ 287	$ 660	$ 545
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.82	$ 0.65	$ 1.49	$ 1.22
Diluted earnings per common share	0.81	0.64	1.49	1.22
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.425	$ 0.410	$ 0.850	$ 0.820