Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Cash Flow Statements Captions [Line Items]
Operating activities	$ 3,180	$ 3,006	$ 2,528
Investing activities	(1,379)	(1,932)	(1,608)
Financing activities	(1,811)	(1,081)	(2,185)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(3)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(10)	(7)	(1,268)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	32	39	1,307
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	22	32	39
WM [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany activity			(1,235)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(1,235)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			1,235
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Cash Flow Statements Captions [Line Items]
Operating activities	3,180	3,006	2,528
Investing activities	(1,379)	(1,932)	(1,608)
Financing activities	(1,811)	(1,081)	(2,185)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(3)
Intercompany activity			1,235
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(10)	(7)	(33)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	32	39	72
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 22	$ 32	$ 39