Segment and Related Information - Revenues mix (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	$ 20,426	$ 19,698	$ 17,931
Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	18,865	17,843	16,099
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	14,356	13,615	12,244
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	5,109	4,860	4,283
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,083	3,025	2,686
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Residential [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,378	3,264	3,145
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	2,786	2,466	2,130
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Landfill [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,252	3,062	2,750
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Transfer [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,257	1,166	1,105
Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,264	1,516	1,528
WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	273	312	276
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	24	27	28
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	25,176	24,018	21,693
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	23,273	21,893	19,666
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	16,117	15,153	13,459
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	5,801	5,450	4,759
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,836	3,681	3,210
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Residential [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,474	3,339	3,181
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,006	2,683	2,309
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Landfill [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	4,863	4,597	4,184
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Transfer [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	2,293	2,143	2,023
Operating Segments [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,576	1,760	1,760
Operating Segments [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	276	315	220
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	51	50	47
Intercompany [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(4,750)	(4,320)	(3,762)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(4,408)	(4,050)	(3,567)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(1,761)	(1,538)	(1,215)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(692)	(590)	(476)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(753)	(656)	(524)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Residential [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(96)	(75)	(36)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(220)	(217)	(179)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Landfill [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(1,611)	(1,535)	(1,434)
Intercompany [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Transfer [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(1,036)	(977)	(918)
Intercompany [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(312)	(244)	(232)
Intercompany [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	(3)	(3)	56
Intercompany [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	$ (27)	$ (23)	$ (19)