Segment and Related Information - Summary (Detail) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Segment Reporting
Number of reportable segments | segment	4
Net operating revenue royalty (as a percent)	15.00%
Operating revenues	$ (20,426)	$ (19,698)	$ (17,931)
Net Operating Revenues	3,575	3,365	2,965
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	2,071	2,038	1,999
Capital expenditures	2,838	2,809	2,039
Goodwill impairment	168
Contingent consideration liability increase (decrease)	(46)
Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(18,865)	(17,843)	(16,099)
Net Operating Revenues	4,821	4,360	3,876
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,812	1,816	1,793
Capital expenditures	1,853	1,762	1,117
Collection and Disposal [Member] | East Tier {Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(8,412)	(8,011)	(7,222)
Net Operating Revenues	2,446	2,178	1,955
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	986	977	945
Capital expenditures	926	948	598
Collection and Disposal [Member] | West Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(7,935)	(7,614)	(6,987)
Net Operating Revenues	2,383	2,182	1,939
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	800	814	821
Capital expenditures	899	774	469
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Ancillary [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(2,518)	(2,218)	(1,890)
Net Operating Revenues	(8)		(18)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	26	25	27
Capital expenditures	28	40	50
Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(1,264)	(1,516)	(1,528)
Net Operating Revenues	(44)	128	217
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	110	92	93
Capital expenditures	450	453	221
Goodwill impairment	168
WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(273)	(312)	(276)
Net Operating Revenues	79	132	108
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	33	33	35
Capital expenditures	420	290	116
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(24)	(27)	(28)
Net Operating Revenues	(1,281)	(1,255)	(1,236)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	116	97	78
Capital expenditures	115	304	585
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(25,176)	(24,018)	(21,693)
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(23,273)	(21,893)	(19,666)
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | East Tier {Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(10,575)	(9,940)	(8,922)
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | West Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(9,987)	(9,540)	(8,703)
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Ancillary [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(2,711)	(2,413)	(2,041)
Operating Segments [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(1,576)	(1,760)	(1,760)
Operating Segments [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(276)	(315)	(220)
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(51)	(50)	(47)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	4,750	4,320	3,762
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	4,408	4,050	3,567
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | East Tier {Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	2,163	1,929	1,700
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | West Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	2,052	1,926	1,716
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Ancillary [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	193	195	151
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	312	244	232
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	3	3	(56)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	$ 27	$ 23	$ 19