Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 32	$ 32	$ 39	$ 39
Other current assets	2,294	2,344
Total current assets	2,326	2,376
Property and equipment, net	11,002	10,950
Other assets	7,511	7,533
Total assets	20,839	20,859
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	390	417
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,380	2,377
Total current liabilities	2,770	2,794
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,667	8,893
Other liabilities	3,895	3,852
Total liabilities	15,332	15,539
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,486	5,297
Noncontrolling interests	21	23
Total equity	5,507	5,320
Total liabilities and equity	20,839	20,859
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Investments in affiliates	(41,800)	(40,255)
Advances to affiliates	(13,791)	(13,000)
Total assets	(55,591)	(53,255)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(19,571)	(18,777)
Total liabilities	(19,571)	(18,777)
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(41,800)	(40,255)
Advances to affiliates	5,780	5,777
Total equity	(36,020)	(34,478)
Total liabilities and equity	(55,591)	(53,255)
WM [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Current assets:
Other current assets	3	5
Total current assets	3	5
Investments in affiliates	20,673	19,924
Other assets	13	14
Total assets	20,689	19,943
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	250	269
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	77	81
Total current liabilities	327	350
Long-term debt, less current portion	6,075	6,229
Due to affiliates	14,088	13,350
Other liabilities	12	16
Total liabilities	20,502	19,945
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,486	5,297
Advances to affiliates	(5,299)	(5,299)
Total equity	187	(2)
Total liabilities and equity	20,689	19,943
WM Holdings [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Current assets:
Other current assets	5	5
Total current assets	5	5
Investments in affiliates	21,127	20,331
Other assets	37	30
Total assets	21,169	20,366
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	9	9
Total current liabilities	9	9
Long-term debt, less current portion	304	304
Due to affiliates	184	128
Total liabilities	497	441
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	20,672	19,925
Total equity	20,672	19,925
Total liabilities and equity	21,169	20,366
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	32	32	$ 39	$ 39
Other current assets	2,286	2,334
Total current assets	2,318	2,366
Property and equipment, net	11,002	10,950
Advances to affiliates	13,791	13,000
Other assets	7,461	7,489
Total assets	34,572	33,805
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	140	148
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,294	2,287
Total current liabilities	2,434	2,435
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,288	2,360
Due to affiliates	5,299	5,299
Other liabilities	3,883	3,836
Total liabilities	13,904	13,930
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	21,128	20,330
Advances to affiliates	(481)	(478)
Noncontrolling interests	21	23
Total equity	20,668	19,875
Total liabilities and equity	$ 34,572	$ 33,805