Segment and Related Information - Revenue mix (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	$ 22,063	$ 20,426	$ 19,698
Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	19,716	18,865	17,843
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	14,890	14,356	13,615
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	5,371	5,109	4,860
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,089	3,083	3,025
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Residential [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,466	3,378	3,264
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	2,964	2,786	2,466
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Landfill [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,445	3,252	3,062
Collection and Disposal [Member] | Transfer [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,381	1,257	1,166
Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,603	1,264	1,516
WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	318	273	312
WM Healthcare Solutions [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	403
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	23	24	27
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	26,879	25,039	23,936
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	24,207	23,141	21,812
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	16,801	16,117	15,153
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	6,169	5,801	5,450
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,883	3,836	3,681
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Residential [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,555	3,474	3,339
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3,194	3,006	2,683
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Landfill [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	4,958	4,731	4,516
Operating Segments [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Transfer [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	2,448	2,293	2,143
Operating Segments [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,890	1,576	1,760
Operating Segments [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	321	276	315
Operating Segments [Member] | WM Healthcare Solutions [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	413
Operating Segments [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	48	46	49
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	4,816	4,613	4,238
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	4,491	4,276	3,969
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,911	1,761	1,538
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	798	692	590
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Industrial [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	794	753	656
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Residential [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	89	96	75
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Other Collection [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	230	220	217
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Landfill [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,513	1,479	1,454
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Collection and Disposal [Member] | Transfer [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	1,067	1,036	977
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Recycling Processing and Sales [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	287	312	244
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | WM Renewable Energy [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	3	3	3
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | WM Healthcare Solutions [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	10
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment revenue
Operating revenues	$ 25	$ 22	$ 22