Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 35	$ 32	$ 30	$ 39
Other current assets	2,265	2,344
Total current assets	2,300	2,376
Property and equipment, net	11,136	10,950
Other assets	7,513	7,533
Total assets	20,949	20,859
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	850	417
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,409	2,377
Total current liabilities	3,259	2,794
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,495	8,893
Other liabilities	3,895	3,852
Total liabilities	15,649	15,539
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,278	5,297
Noncontrolling interests	22	23
Total equity	5,300	5,320
Total liabilities and equity	20,949	20,859
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Investments in affiliates	(42,712)	(40,255)
Advances to affiliates	(14,171)	(13,000)
Total assets	(56,883)	(53,255)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(19,955)	(18,777)
Total liabilities	(19,955)	(18,777)
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(42,712)	(40,255)
Advances to affiliates	5,784	5,777
Total equity	(36,928)	(34,478)
Total liabilities and equity	(56,883)	(53,255)
WM [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Current assets:
Other current assets	3	5
Total current assets	3	5
Investments in affiliates	21,105	19,924
Other assets	12	14
Total assets	21,120	19,943
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	736	269
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	61	81
Total current liabilities	797	350
Long-term debt, less current portion	5,911	6,229
Due to affiliates	14,425	13,350
Other liabilities	8	16
Total liabilities	21,141	19,945
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	5,278	5,297
Advances to affiliates	(5,299)	(5,299)
Total equity	(21)	(2)
Total liabilities and equity	21,120	19,943
WM Holdings [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Current assets:
Other current assets	5	5
Total current assets	5	5
Investments in affiliates	21,607	20,331
Other assets	31	30
Total assets	21,643	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	231	128
Total liabilities	539	441
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	21,104	19,925
Total equity	21,104	19,925
Total liabilities and equity	21,643	20,366
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	35	32	$ 30	$ 39
Other current assets	2,257	2,334
Total current assets	2,292	2,366
Property and equipment, net	11,136	10,950
Advances to affiliates	14,171	13,000
Other assets	7,470	7,489
Total assets	35,069	33,805
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	114	148
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,344	2,287
Total current liabilities	2,458	2,435
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,280	2,360
Due to affiliates	5,299	5,299
Other liabilities	3,887	3,836
Total liabilities	13,924	13,930
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	21,608	20,330
Advances to affiliates	(485)	(478)
Noncontrolling interests	22	23
Total equity	21,145	19,875
Total liabilities and equity	$ 35,069	$ 33,805