Segment and Related Information - Summary (Detail) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)
Segment Reporting
Number of reportable segments | segment			4
Operating revenues	$ (5,609)	$ (5,198)	$ (16,170)	$ (15,209)
Net Operating Revenues	1,119	1,021	3,144	2,790
Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(5,084)	(4,821)	(14,722)	(14,078)
Net Operating Revenues	1,426	1,259	4,064	3,496
Collection and Disposal [Member] | East Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(2,242)	(2,144)	(6,501)	(6,312)
Net Operating Revenues	718	648	2,064	1,778
Collection and Disposal [Member] | West Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(2,138)	(2,024)	(6,207)	(5,909)
Net Operating Revenues	708	613	2,009	1,720
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Ancillary [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(704)	(653)	(2,014)	(1,857)
Net Operating Revenues		(2)	(9)	(2)
Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(432)	(305)	(1,205)	(915)
Net Operating Revenues	21	18	69	55
WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(87)	(67)	(225)	(198)
Net Operating Revenues	28	17	67	51
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(6)	(5)	(18)	(18)
Net Operating Revenues	(356)	(273)	(1,056)	(812)
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(6,875)	(6,413)	(19,829)	(18,775)
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	$ (6,272)	$ (5,947)	$ (18,151)	$ (17,382)
Net operating revenue royalty (as a percent)	15.00%	15.00%	15.00%	15.00%
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Processing fees [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	$ 29	$ 16	$ 77	$ 41
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Royalty [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	13	10	34	30
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | East Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(2,835)	(2,700)	(8,202)	(7,934)
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | West Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(2,687)	(2,546)	(7,800)	(7,450)
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Ancillary [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(750)	(701)	(2,149)	(1,998)
Operating Segments [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(503)	(386)	(1,414)	(1,154)
Operating Segments [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(88)	(68)	(228)	(201)
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	(12)	(12)	(36)	(38)
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	1,266	1,215	3,659	3,566
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	1,188	1,126	3,429	3,304
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | East Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	593	556	1,701	1,622
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | West Tier [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	549	522	1,593	1,541
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Ancillary [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	46	48	135	141
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	71	81	209	239
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	1	1	3	3
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting
Operating revenues	$ 6	$ 7	$ 18	$ 20