Segment and Related Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Segment and Related Information

Reportable Segments

	Gross		Intercompany		Net		Income		Depreciation,		Capital
	Operating		Operating		Operating		from		Depletion and		Expenditures
	Revenues		Revenues(b)		Revenues		Operations(c)		Amortization		(d)
Year Ended December 31:
2023
Collection and Disposal:
East Tier	$	10,575	$	(2,163)	$	8,412	$	2,446	$	986	$	926
West Tier		9,987		(2,052)		7,935		2,383		800		899
Other Ancillary		2,711		(193)		2,518		(8)		26		28
Collection and Disposal		23,273		(4,408)		18,865		4,821		1,812		1,853
Recycling Processing and Sales (a)		1,576		(312)		1,264		(44)		110		450
WM Renewable Energy		276		(3)		273		79		33		420
Corporate and Other		51		(27)		24		(1,281)		116		115
Total	$	25,176	$	(4,750)	$	20,426	$	3,575	$	2,071	$	2,838
2022
Collection and Disposal:
East Tier	$	9,940	$	(1,929)	$	8,011	$	2,178	$	977	$	948
West Tier		9,540		(1,926)		7,614		2,182		814		774
Other Ancillary		2,413		(195)		2,218		—		25		40
Collection and Disposal		21,893		(4,050)		17,843		4,360		1,816		1,762
Recycling Processing and Sales		1,760		(244)		1,516		128		92		453
WM Renewable Energy		315		(3)		312		132		33		290
Corporate and Other		50		(23)		27		(1,255)		97		304
Total	$	24,018	$	(4,320)	$	19,698	$	3,365	$	2,038	$	2,809
2021
Collection and Disposal:
East Tier	$	8,922	$	(1,700)	$	7,222	$	1,955	$	945	$	598
West Tier		8,703		(1,716)		6,987		1,939		821		469
Other Ancillary		2,041		(151)		1,890		(18)		27		50
Collection and Disposal		19,666		(3,567)		16,099		3,876		1,793		1,117
Recycling Processing and Sales		1,760		(232)		1,528		217		93		221
WM Renewable Energy		220		56		276		108		35		116
Corporate and Other		47		(19)		28		(1,236)		78		585
Total	$	21,693	$	(3,762)	$	17,931	$	2,965	$	1,999	$	2,039

(a) Included within income from operations for our Recycling Processing and Sales segment is a $168 million goodwill impairment charge related to a business engaged in accelerating film and plastic wrap recycling capabilities, which was partially offset by the recognition of $46 million of income related to the reversal of a liability for contingent consideration associated with our investment in such business.

(b) Intercompany operating revenues reflect each segment’s total intercompany sales, including intercompany sales within a segment and between segments. Transactions within and between segments are generally made on a basis intended to reflect the market value of the service.

(c) For those items included in the determination of income from operations, the accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2.

(d) Includes non-cash items. Capital expenditures and are reported in our reportable segments at the time they are recorded within the segments’ property and equipment balances and, therefore, include timing differences for amounts accrued but not yet paid.  

Schedule of total assets for segments

Total assets by reportable segment as of December 31 are as follows (in millions):

	2023		2022
Collection and Disposal:
East Tier	$	14,328	$	14,194
West Tier		11,322		11,134
Other Ancillary		783		686
Collection and Disposal		26,433		26,014
Recycling Processing and Sales		2,282		1,918
WM Renewable Energy		1,077		693
Corporate and Other		3,392		3,052
Elimination of intercompany investments and advances		(361)		(310)
Total assets, per Consolidated Balance Sheet	$	32,823	$	31,367

Summary of operating revenues mix

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

Summary of net revenue by geographic area

Net operating revenues relating to operations for the year ended December 31 are as follows (in millions):

	2023		2022		2021
U.S.	$	19,595	$	18,860	$	17,136
Canada		813		838		795
Other (a)		18		—		—
Total	$	20,426	$	19,698	$	17,931

(a) Primarily related to recently acquired smaller recycling-related operations in the Netherlands.

Summary of property by geographic area

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and depletion, relating to operations as of December 31 are as follows (in millions):

	2023		2022
U.S.	$	15,903	$	14,721
Canada		1,060		994
Other		5		4
Total	$	16,968	$	15,719