Waste Management (WM) 10-Q 24 Apr 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 17, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Trading Symbol	'WM	'
Entity Registrant Name	'WASTE MANAGEMENT INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000823768	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	465,362,211

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$339	$58
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $36 and $33, respectively	1,661	1,699
Other receivables	90	111
Investment in unconsolidated entity	'	177
Parts and supplies	174	178
Deferred income taxes	96	113
Other assets	175	163
Total current assets	2,535	2,499
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $16,874 and $16,723, respectively	12,170	12,344
Goodwill	6,068	6,070
Other intangible assets, net	503	529
Investments in unconsolidated entities	402	414
Other assets	764	747
Total assets	22,442	22,603
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	663	744
Accrued liabilities	1,016	1,069
Deferred revenues	462	475
Current portion of long-term debt	1,216	726
Total current liabilities	3,357	3,014
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,978	9,500
Deferred income taxes	1,815	1,842
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities	1,532	1,518
Other liabilities	721	727
Total liabilities	16,403	16,601
Commitments and contingencies	'	'
Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 630,282,461 shares issued	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	4,607	4,596
Retained earnings	6,342	6,289
Accumulated other comprehensive income	89	154
Treasury stock at cost, 164,985,633 and 165,961,646 shares, respectively	-5,307	-5,338
Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders' equity	5,737	5,707
Noncontrolling interests	302	295
Total equity	6,039	6,002
Total liabilities and equity	$22,442	$22,603

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$36	$33
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	$16,874	$16,723
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	1,500,000,000	1,500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	630,282,461	630,282,461
Treasury stock, shares	164,985,633	165,961,646

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'
Operating revenues	$3,396	$3,336
Costs and expenses:	'	'
Operating	2,232	2,209
Selling, general and administrative	375	390
Depreciation and amortization	317	323
Restructuring	1	8
(Income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items	2	4
Total costs and expenses	2,927	2,934
Income from operations	469	402
Other income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense, net	-121	-121
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities	-9	-8
Other, net	-3	-11
Total other income (expense)	-133	-140
Income before income taxes	336	262
Provision for income taxes	99	86
Consolidated net income	237	176
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	8
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$228	$168
Basic earnings per common share	$0.49	$0.36
Diluted earnings per common share	$0.49	$0.36
Cash dividends declared per common share	$0.38	$0.37

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'
Consolidated net income	$237	$176
Derivative instruments, net	-6	-2
Available-for-sale securities, net	'	1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-59	-32
Post-retirement benefit obligation, net	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	-65	-33
Comprehensive income	172	143
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	8
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$163	$135

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Consolidated net income	$237	$176
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	317	323
Deferred income tax benefit	-15	-25
Interest accretion on landfill liabilities	21	23
Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets	1	1
Provision for bad debts	13	19
Equity-based compensation expense	15	21
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	-1	-6
Net gain from disposal of assets	-4	-3
Effect of (income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items and other	2	15
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities, net of dividends	9	8
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:	'	'
Receivables	41	88
Other current assets	-10	-18
Other assets	2	-3
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	-19	-24
Deferred revenues and other liabilities	-25	-18
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	584	577
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	-11	-180
Capital expenditures	-266	-266
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses and other assets (net of cash divested)	166	37
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts	11	'
Investments in unconsolidated entities	-4	-12
Other	-18	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-122	-421
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
New borrowings	913	244
Debt repayments	-928	-151
Cash dividends	-174	-170
Exercise of common stock options	14	38
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions	1	6
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	-2	-8
Other	-3	'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-179	-41
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-2	-2
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	281	113
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	58	194
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$339	$307

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
In Millions, except Share data
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$6,002	$6	$4,596	$6,289	$154	($5,338)	$295
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	'	630,282	'	'	'	-165,962	'
Consolidated net income	237	'	'	228	'	'	9
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	-65	'	'	'	-65	'	'
Cash dividends	-174	'	'	-174	'	'	'
Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes	41	'	11	-1	'	31	'
Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes, shares	'	'	'	'	'	974	'
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	-2	'	'	'	'	'	-2
Other	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Other, shares	'	'	'	'	'	2	'
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$6,039	$6	$4,607	$6,342	$89	($5,307)	$302
Ending balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2014	'	630,282	'	'	'	-164,986	'

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	1	Basis of Presentation
	The financial statements presented in this report represent the consolidation of Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Waste Management’s wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries; and certain variable interest entities for which Waste Management or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiaries as described in Note 13. Waste Management is a holding company and all operations are conducted by its subsidiaries. When the terms “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are used in this document, those terms refer to Waste Management, Inc., its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities. When we use the term “WM,” we are referring only to Waste Management, Inc., the parent holding company.
	We are North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management environmental services. We partner with our residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers and the communities we serve to manage and reduce waste at each stage from collection to disposal, while recovering valuable resources and creating clean, renewable energy. Our “Solid Waste” business is operated and managed locally by our subsidiaries that focus on distinct geographic areas and provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. Through our subsidiaries, we are also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States.
	We evaluate, oversee and manage the financial performance of our Solid Waste business subsidiaries through our 17 geographic Areas. Our Wheelabrator business provides waste-to-energy services and manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our Solid Waste or Wheelabrator businesses, which are presented in this report as “Other.” Additional information related to our segments can be found in Note 8.
	The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2014 and for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in equity for the periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The financial statements presented herein should be read in connection with the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	In preparing our financial statements, we make numerous estimates and assumptions that affect the accounting for and recognition and disclosure of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. We must make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent on future events, cannot be calculated with precision from available data or simply cannot be calculated. In some cases, these estimates are difficult to determine, and we must exercise significant judgment. In preparing our financial statements, the most difficult, subjective and complex estimates and the assumptions that present the greatest amount of uncertainty relate to our accounting for landfills, environmental remediation liabilities, asset impairments, deferred income taxes and reserves associated with our insured and self-insured claims. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.
	Reclassifications
	When necessary, reclassifications have been made to our prior period consolidated financial information in order to conform to the current year presentation.

Landfill_and_Environmental_Rem

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities	'
	2	Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities
	Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs are presented in the table below (in millions):
			March 31, 2014								December 31, 2013
			Landfill			Environmental			Total		Landfill		Environmental		Total
						Remediation							Remediation
	Current (in accrued liabilities)		$	94		$	35		$	129	$	95	$	35	$	130
	Long-term			1,343			189			1,532		1,326		192		1,518
			$	1,437		$	224		$	1,661	$	1,421	$	227	$	1,648
	The changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the three months ended March 31, 2014 are reflected in the table below (in millions):
			Landfill			Environmental
						Remediation
	December 31, 2012		$	1,338		$	253
	Obligations incurred and capitalized			59			—
	Obligations settled			(71	)		(20	)
	Interest accretion			87			4
	Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions			6			(6	)
	Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments			2			(4	)
	December 31, 2013			1,421			227
	Obligations incurred and capitalized			12			—
	Obligations settled			(8	)		(5	)
	Interest accretion			21			1
	Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions			(7	)		1
	Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments			(2	)		—
	March 31, 2014		$	1,437		$	224
	At several of our landfills, we provide financial assurance by depositing cash into restricted trust funds or escrow accounts for purposes of settling final capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation obligations. Generally, these trust funds are established to comply with statutory requirements and operating agreements. See Note 13 for additional information related to these trusts.

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	3	Debt
	The following table summarizes the major components of debt at each balance sheet date (in millions) and provides the maturities and interest rate ranges of each major category as of March 31, 2014:
			March 31,		December 31,
			2014		2013
	U.S. revolving credit facility, maturing July 2018 (weighted average interest rate of 1.2% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013)		$	790	$	420
	Letter of credit facilities, maturing through December 2016			—		—
	Canadian credit facility and term loan, maturing November 2017 (weighted average effective interest rate of 2.5% at March 31, 2014 and 2.7% at December 31, 2013)			375		414
	Senior notes maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 2.60% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 5.8% at March 31, 2014 and 5.7% at December 31, 2013)			5,933		6,287
	Tax-exempt bonds, maturing through 2045, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.06% to 5.7% (weighted average interest rate of 2.3% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013)			2,664		2,664
	Capital leases and other, maturing through 2055, interest rates up to 12%			432		441
				10,194		10,226
	Current portion of long-term debt			1,216		726
			$	8,978	$	9,500
	Debt Classification
	As of March 31, 2014, we had (i) $498 million of debt maturing within the next 12 months, including $350 million of 6.375% senior notes that mature in March 2015 and $82 million of tax-exempt bonds; (ii) $790 million of borrowings and advances outstanding under the U.S. revolving credit facility (“$2.25 billion revolving credit facility”) and (iii) $874 million of tax-exempt borrowings subject to repricing within the next 12 months. Of the $790 million of borrowings outstanding under our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility, we have classified $370 million of these borrowings as long-term because we intend and have the ability to refinance or maintain these borrowings on a long-term basis. Based on our intent and ability to refinance other portions of our current obligations on a long-term basis as of March 31, 2014, including through use of forecasted available capacity under our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility, we have classified an additional $576 million of debt as long-term. The remaining $1.2 billion, including $420 million of outstanding borrowings under our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility, is classified as current obligations.
	Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Facilities
	As of March 31, 2014, we had an aggregate committed capacity of $2.65 billion for letters of credit under various U.S. credit facilities. Our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility expires in July 2018 and is our primary source of letter of credit capacity. Our remaining committed letter of credit capacity is provided under facilities with terms ending through December 2016. As of March 31, 2014, we had an aggregate of $1.3 billion of letters of credit outstanding under various credit facilities. Approximately $884 million of these letters of credit have been issued under our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility. As of March 31, 2014, we had outstanding borrowings under our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility of $790 million, leaving $576 million of unused and available capacity.
	We also have a Canadian credit agreement that matures in November 2017 and provides for C$500 million of term credit and C$150 million of revolving credit capacity. We have the ability to issue up to C$50 million of letters of credit under the Canadian revolving credit facility, which if utilized, reduces the amount of credit capacity available for borrowings. The C$500 million of term credit was established specifically to fund the acquisition of the assets of RCI Environnement, Inc. and was fully drawn in July 2013. The term credit is non-revolving credit and principal amounts repaid may not be re-borrowed. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had no letters of credit outstanding under the credit facility. We had outstanding borrowings of C$10 million at December 31, 2013 that were repaid with available cash during the first quarter of 2014.
	Debt Borrowings and Repayments
	$2.25 Billion Revolving Credit Facility — During the first quarter of 2014, we incurred $370 million of net borrowings under our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility principally to repay the $350 million of 5.0% senior notes that matured in March 2014.
	Canadian Credit Facility and Term Loan — We repaid C$25 million, or $23 million, of net advances under our Canadian credit facility and term loan during the three months ended March 31, 2014 with available cash.
	Senior Notes — We repaid $350 million of 5.0% senior notes that matured in March 2014 with proceeds from borrowings under our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility.

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	'
	4	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
	The following table summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (in millions):
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments		Balance Sheet Location	March 31,		December 31,
				2014		2013
	Foreign currency derivatives		Long-term other assets	$	12	$	2
	Total derivative assets			$	12	$	2
	Electricity commodity derivatives		Current accrued liabilities	$	4	$	3
	Foreign currency derivatives		Current accrued liabilities		1		—
	Interest rate derivatives		Current accrued liabilities		—		28
	Total derivative liabilities			$	5	$	31
	We have not offset fair value amounts recognized for our derivative instruments. For information related to the inputs used to measure our derivative assets and liabilities at fair value, refer to Note 12.
	Fair Value Hedges
	Interest Rate Swaps
	In prior years, we entered into interest rate swaps to maintain a portion of our debt obligations at variable market interest rates. We designated these interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of our fixed-rate senior notes. Fair value hedge accounting for interest rate swap contracts increased the carrying value of our debt instruments by $54 million as of March 31, 2014 and $59 million as of December 31, 2013. These fair value adjustments to long-term debt are being amortized as a reduction to interest expense using the effective interest method over the remaining life of the related senior notes issuances, which extend through 2028. We recognized benefits to interest expense associated with the amortization of our terminated interest rate swaps of $5 million for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.
	Cash Flow Hedges
	Forward-Starting Interest Rate Swaps
	During the first quarter of 2014, forward-starting interest rate swaps with a notional value of $175 million matured and we paid cash of $36 million to settle the associated liabilities. These swaps were designated as cash flow hedges and had been executed in prior years to hedge the risk of changes in semi-annual interest payments due to fluctuations in the forward ten-year LIBOR swap rate for a debt issuance initially forecasted for March 2014, now forecasted to occur in the second quarter of 2014. Accordingly, the loss associated with the matured forward-starting swaps has been deferred as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income” and will be amortized to interest expense over the debt term once the issuance occurs. We do not expect ineffectiveness to be material.
	Additionally, at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our “Accumulated other comprehensive income” included $33 million and $34 million, respectively, of after-tax deferred losses related to all previously terminated swaps, which are being amortized as an increase to interest expense over the ten-year term of the related senior note issuances using the effective interest method. As of March 31, 2014, $7 million (on a pre-tax basis) is scheduled to be reclassified as an increase to interest expense over the next 12 months for these previously terminated swaps.
	Foreign Currency Derivatives
	We use foreign currency exchange rate derivatives to hedge our exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates for anticipated intercompany cash transactions between WM Holdings and its Canadian subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2014, we had foreign exchange cross currency swaps outstanding for all of the anticipated cash flows associated with an intercompany loan from WM Holdings to the wholly-owned Canadian subsidiaries. The hedged cash flows as of March 31, 2014 include C$370 million of total notional value. The scheduled principal payments of the loan and the related swaps are as follows: C$70 million due on October 31, 2016, C$150 million due on October 31, 2017 and C$150 million due on October 31, 2018. We designated these cross currency swaps as cash flow hedges. Gains or losses resulting from the remeasurement of the underlying non-functional currency intercompany loan are recognized in current earnings in the same financial statement line item as offsetting gains or losses on the related cross currency swaps.
	Electricity Commodity Derivatives
	We use short-term “receive fixed, pay variable” electricity commodity swaps to reduce the variability in our revenues and cash flows caused by fluctuations in the market prices for electricity. We hedged 1.73 million megawatt hours, or approximately 56%, of Wheelabrator’s full year 2013 merchant electricity sales and the swaps executed through March 31, 2014 are expected to hedge approximately 480,000 megawatt hours, or approximately 15%, of Wheelabrator’s full year 2014 merchant electricity sales. For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we hedged 17% and 53%, respectively, of Wheelabrator’s merchant electricity sales.
	There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with our cash flow hedges during the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013. Refer to Note 11 for information regarding the impacts of our cash flow derivatives on our comprehensive income and results of operations.
	Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features
	Our interest rate derivative instruments have in the past, and may in the future, contain provisions related to the Company’s credit rating. These provisions generally provide that if the Company’s credit rating were to fall to specified levels below investment grade, the counterparties have the ability to terminate the derivative agreements, resulting in settlement of all affected transactions. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we did not have any interest rate derivatives outstanding that contained these credit-risk-related features.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	5	Income Taxes
	Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was 29.6% and 32.8%, respectively. We evaluate our effective income tax rate at each interim period and adjust it as facts and circumstances warrant. The difference between federal income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was primarily due to the favorable impact of revaluation of our deferred taxes and utilization of state net operating losses resulting from a change in state law, and federal tax credits. These benefits were partially offset by the unfavorable impact of state and local income taxes. The difference between federal income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was primarily due to the favorable impact of federal tax credits and tax audit settlements offset, in part, by the unfavorable impact of state and local income taxes and tax implications related to impairments.
	Investment in Refined Coal Facility — In January 2011, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company, which was established to invest in and manage a refined coal facility in North Dakota. The facility’s refinement processes qualify for federal tax credits that are expected to be realized through 2019 in accordance with Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code.
	We account for our investment in this entity using the equity method of accounting, recognizing our share of the entity’s results of operations and other reductions in the value of our investment in “Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities,” within our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized less than $1 million and $1 million, respectively, of net losses resulting from our share of the entity’s operating losses. Our provision for income taxes for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was reduced by $3 million primarily as a result of tax credits realized from this investment. See Note 13 for additional information related to this investment.
	Investment in Low-Income Housing Properties — In April 2010, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. The entity’s low-income housing investments qualify for federal tax credits that are expected to be realized through 2020 in accordance with Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.
	We account for our investment in this entity using the equity method of accounting. We recognize our share of the entity’s results of operations and other reductions in the value of our investment in “Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities,” within our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The value of our investment decreases as the tax credits are generated and utilized. During each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized $6 million of losses relating to our equity investment in this entity and $1 million of interest expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, our provision for income taxes was reduced by $8 million (including $5 million of tax credits) and $7 million (including $4 million of tax credits), respectively. See Note 13 for additional information related to this investment.
	Bonus Depreciation — The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law on January 2, 2013 and included an extension for one year of the bonus depreciation allowance. As a result, 50% of qualifying capital expenditures on property placed in service before January 1, 2014 were depreciated immediately. The acceleration of deductions on 2013 qualifying capital expenditures resulting from the bonus depreciation provisions had no impact on our effective income tax rate for 2013 although it reduced our cash taxes.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	6	Earnings Per Share
	Basic and diluted earnings per share were computed using the following common share data (shares in millions):
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2014			2013
	Number of common shares outstanding at end of period			465.3			466.5
	Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding			(0.1	)		(0.8	)
	Weighted average basic common shares outstanding			465.2			465.7
	Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares			1.7			0.8
	Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding			466.9			466.5
	Potentially issuable shares			14.4			15.4
	Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding			2.8			7.3

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	7	Commitments and Contingencies
	Financial Instruments — We have obtained letters of credit, surety bonds and insurance policies and have established trust funds and issued financial guarantees to support tax-exempt bonds, contracts, performance of landfill final capping, closure and post-closure requirements, environmental remediation, and other obligations. Letters of credit generally are supported by our $2.25 billion revolving credit facility and other credit facilities established for that purpose. These facilities are discussed further in Note 3. Surety bonds and insurance policies are supported by (i) a diverse group of third-party surety and insurance companies; (ii) an entity in which we have a noncontrolling financial interest or (iii) wholly-owned insurance companies, the sole business of which is to issue surety bonds and/or insurance policies on our behalf.
	Management does not expect that any claims against or draws on these instruments would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. We have not experienced any unmanageable difficulty in obtaining the required financial assurance instruments for our current operations. In an ongoing effort to mitigate risks of future cost increases and reductions in available capacity, we continue to evaluate various options to access cost-effective sources of financial assurance.
	Insurance — We carry insurance coverage for protection of our assets and operations from certain risks including automobile liability, general liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, directors’ and officers’ liability, pollution legal liability and other coverages we believe are customary to the industry. Our exposure to loss for insurance claims is generally limited to the per incident deductible under the related insurance policy. Our exposure, however, could increase if our insurers are unable to meet their commitments on a timely basis.
	We have retained a significant portion of the risks related to our automobile, general liability and workers’ compensation claims programs. “General liability” refers to the self-insured portion of specific third party claims made against us that may be covered under our commercial General Liability Insurance Policy. For our self-insured retentions, the exposure for unpaid claims and associated expenses, including incurred but not reported losses, is based on an actuarial valuation and internal estimates. The accruals for these liabilities could be revised if future occurrences or loss development significantly differ from our assumptions. We do not expect the impact of any known casualty, property, environmental or other contingency to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	Guarantees — In the ordinary course of our business, WM and WM Holdings enter into guarantee agreements associated with their subsidiaries’ operations. Additionally, WM and WM Holdings have each guaranteed all of the senior debt of the other entity. No additional liabilities have been recorded for these intercompany guarantees because all of the underlying obligations are reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	We also have guaranteed the obligations and certain performance requirements of, and provided indemnification to, third parties in connection with both consolidated and unconsolidated entities. Guarantee agreements outstanding as of March 31, 2014 include (i) guarantees of unconsolidated entities’ financial obligations maturing through 2020 for maximum future payments of $9 million and (ii) agreements guaranteeing certain market value losses for approximately 825 homeowners’ properties adjacent to or near 20 of our landfills. Our indemnification obligations generally arise from divestitures and provide that we will be responsible for liabilities associated with our operations for events that occurred prior to the sale of the operations. Additionally, under certain of our acquisition agreements, we have provided for additional consideration to be paid to the sellers if established financial targets or other market conditions are achieved post-closing and we have recognized liabilities for these contingent obligations based on an estimate of the fair value of these contingencies at the time of acquisition. We do not currently believe that contingent obligations to provide indemnification or pay additional post-closing consideration in connection with our divestitures or acquisitions will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	Environmental Matters — A significant portion of our operating costs and capital expenditures could be characterized as costs of environmental protection as we are subject to an array of laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Under current laws and regulations, we may have liabilities for environmental damage caused by our operations, or for damage caused by conditions that existed before we acquired a site. In addition to remediation activity required by state or local authorities, such liabilities include potentially responsible party, or PRP, investigations. The costs associated with these liabilities can include settlements, certain legal and consultant fees, as well as incremental internal and external costs directly associated with site investigation and clean-up.
	Estimating our degree of responsibility for remediation is inherently difficult. We recognize and accrue for an estimated remediation liability when we determine that such liability is both probable and reasonably estimable. Determining the method and ultimate cost of remediation requires that a number of assumptions be made. There can sometimes be a range of reasonable estimates of the costs associated with the likely site remediation alternatives identified in the investigation of the extent of environmental impact. In these cases, we use the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate. If no amount within a range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we use the amount that is the low end of such range. If we used the high ends of such ranges, our aggregate potential liability would be approximately $190 million higher than the $224 million recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2014. Our ultimate responsibility may differ materially from current estimates. It is possible that technological, regulatory or enforcement developments, the results of environmental studies, the inability to identify other PRPs, the inability of other PRPs to contribute to the settlements of such liabilities, or other factors could require us to record additional liabilities. Our ongoing review of our remediation liabilities, in light of relevant internal and external facts and circumstances, could result in revisions to our accruals that could cause upward or downward adjustments to income from operations. These adjustments could be material in any given period.
	As of March 31, 2014, we had been notified by the government that we are a PRP in connection with 77 locations listed on the EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List, or NPL. Of the 77 sites at which claims have been made against us, 14 are sites we own. Each of the NPL sites we own was initially developed by others as a landfill disposal facility. At each of these facilities, we are working in conjunction with the government to evaluate or remediate identified site problems, and we have either agreed with other legally liable parties on an arrangement for sharing the costs of remediation or are working toward a cost-sharing agreement. We generally expect to receive any amounts due from other participating parties at or near the time that we make the remedial expenditures. The other 63 NPL sites, which we do not own, are at various procedural stages under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, known as CERCLA or Superfund.
	The majority of these proceedings involving NPL sites that we do not own are based on allegations that certain of our subsidiaries (or their predecessors) transported hazardous substances to the sites, often prior to our acquisition of these subsidiaries. CERCLA generally provides for liability for those parties owning, operating, transporting to or disposing at the sites. Proceedings arising under Superfund typically involve numerous waste generators and other waste transportation and disposal companies and seek to allocate or recover costs associated with site investigation and remediation, which costs could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. At some of the sites at which we have been identified as a PRP, our liability is well defined as a consequence of a governmental decision and an agreement among liable parties as to the share each will pay for implementing that remedy. At other sites, where no remedy has been selected or the liable parties have been unable to agree on an appropriate allocation, our future costs are uncertain.
	Item 103 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings, or such proceedings are known to be contemplated, unless we reasonably believe that the matter will result in no monetary sanctions, or in monetary sanctions, exclusive of interest and costs, of less than $100,000. The following matter is disclosed in accordance with that requirement. We do not currently believe that the eventual outcome of such matter could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	On December 22, 2011, the Harris County Attorney in Houston, Texas filed suit against McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corporation (“MIMC”), WM and Waste Management of Texas, Inc., et. al, seeking civil penalties and attorneys’ fees for alleged violations of the Texas Water Code and the Texas Health and Safety Code. The County’s Original Petition pending in the District Court of Harris County, Texas alleges the mismanagement of certain waste pits that were operated from 1965 to 1966 by MIMC. In 1998, a predecessor of WM acquired the stock of the parent entity of MIMC.
	Additionally, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii has been conducting an investigation prompted by allegations of violations of the federal Clean Water Act involving discharge of stormwater at the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, located on Oahu, in connection with three major storm events in December 2010 and January 2011. No formal enforcement action has been brought against the Company. While we could potentially be subject to sanctions, including requirements to pay monetary penalties, in connection with a future proceeding that may arise from the investigation, a range of loss cannot currently be estimated because no proceeding has yet commenced and significant factual and legal issues remain. We are cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
	Litigation — In October 2011 and January 2012, we were named as a defendant in a purported class action in the Circuit Court of Sarasota County, Florida and the Circuit Court of Lawrence County, Alabama, respectively. These cases primarily pertain to our fuel and environmental charges included on our invoices, generally alleging that such charges were not properly disclosed, were unfair and were contrary to the customer service contracts. The law firm that filed these lawsuits had filed a purported class action in 2008 against subsidiaries of WM in Bullock County, Alabama, making similar allegations. The prior Alabama suit was removed to federal court, where the federal court ultimately dismissed the plaintiffs’ national class action claims. The plaintiffs then elected to dismiss the case without prejudice. We will vigorously defend against these pending lawsuits. Given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, including the early stage of these cases, the unknown size of any potential class, and legal and factual issues in dispute, the outcome of these cases cannot be predicted and a range of loss cannot currently be estimated.
	From time to time, we are also named as defendants in personal injury and property damage lawsuits, including purported class actions, on the basis of having owned, operated or transported waste to a disposal facility that is alleged to have contaminated the environment or, in certain cases, on the basis of having conducted environmental remediation activities at sites. Some of the lawsuits may seek to have us pay the costs of monitoring of allegedly affected sites and health care examinations of allegedly affected persons for a substantial period of time even where no actual damage is proven. While we believe we have meritorious defenses to these lawsuits, the ultimate resolution is often substantially uncertain due to the difficulty of determining the cause, extent and impact of alleged contamination (which may have occurred over a long period of time), the potential for successive groups of complainants to emerge, the diversity of the individual plaintiffs’ circumstances, and the potential contribution or indemnification obligations of co-defendants or other third parties, among other factors. Additionally, we often enter into agreements with landowners imposing obligations on us to meet certain regulatory or contractual conditions upon site closure or upon termination of the agreements. Compliance with these agreements inherently involves subjective determinations and may result in disputes, including litigation.
	As a large company with operations across the United States and Canada, we are subject to various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Many of these actions raise complex factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. Actions filed against us include commercial, customer, and employment-related claims, including purported class action lawsuits related to our sales and marketing practices and our customer service agreements and purported class actions involving federal and state wage and hour and other laws. The plaintiffs in some actions seek unspecified damages or injunctive relief, or both. These actions are in various procedural stages, and some are covered in part by insurance. We currently do not believe that the eventual outcome of any such actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
	WM’s charter and bylaws provide that WM shall indemnify any person against all liabilities and expenses, and upon request shall advance expenses to any person, who is subject to a pending or threatened proceeding because such person is a director or officer of the Company. Such indemnification is required to the maximum extent permitted under Delaware law. Accordingly, the director or officer must execute an undertaking to reimburse the Company for any fees advanced if it is later determined that the director or officer was not entitled to have such fees advanced under Delaware law. Additionally, WM has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of the members of its Board of Directors, its Chief Executive Officer and each of its executive vice presidents. The employment agreements between WM and its Chief Executive Officer and other executive and senior vice presidents contain a direct contractual obligation of the Company to provide indemnification to the executive. The Company may incur substantial expenses in connection with the fulfillment of its advancement of costs and indemnification obligations in connection with actions or proceedings that may be brought against its former or current officers, directors and employees.
	Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans — About 20% of our workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements with various union locals across the United States and Canada. As a result of some of these agreements, certain of our subsidiaries are participating employers in a number of trustee-managed multiemployer defined benefit pension plans for the covered employees. In connection with our ongoing renegotiation of various collective bargaining agreements, we may discuss and negotiate for the complete or partial withdrawal from one or more of these pension plans. A complete or partial withdrawal from a multiemployer pension plan may also occur if employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement vote to decertify a union from continuing to represent them. Any other circumstance resulting in a decline in Company contributions to a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan through a reduction in the labor force, whether through attrition over time or through a business event (such as the discontinuation or nonrenewal of a customer contract, the decertification of a union, or relocation, reduction or discontinuance of certain operations) may also trigger a complete or partial withdrawal from one or more of these pension plans.
	One of the most significant multiemployer pension plans in which we have participated is the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (“Central States Pension Plan”). The Central States Pension Plan is in “critical status,” as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Since 2008, certain of our affiliates have bargained to remove covered employees from the Central States Pension Plan, resulting in a series of withdrawals, and we have recognized charges to “Operating” expense associated with the withdrawal of certain bargaining units from the Central States Pension Plan and other underfunded multiemployer pension plans. In October 2011, employees at the last of our affiliates with active participants in the Central States Pension Plan voted to decertify the union that represented them, withdrawing themselves from the Central States Pension Plan. The Company believes there are no collective bargaining agreements remaining that require continuing contributions to this plan; however, this point is the subject of pending litigation with the trustees for the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan.
	We are still negotiating and litigating final resolutions of our withdrawal liability for certain previous withdrawals. Except in the case of our withdrawals from the Central States Pension Plan, we do not believe any additional liability above the charges we have already recognized for such previous withdrawals could be material to the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations or cash flows. In addition to charges recognized in prior years, we currently estimate that we could incur up to approximately $40 million in future charges based on demands from representatives of the Central States Pension Plan. As a result, we do not anticipate that the final resolution of the Central States Pension Plan matter could be material to the Company’s business, financial condition or liquidity; however, such loss could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and, to a lesser extent, our results of operations, for a particular reporting period. Similarly, we also do not believe that any future withdrawals, individually or in the aggregate, from the multiemployer pension plans to which we contribute, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or liquidity. However, such withdrawals could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows for a particular reporting period, depending on the number of employees withdrawn in any future period and the financial condition of the multiemployer pension plan(s) at the time of such withdrawal(s).
	Tax Matters — We are currently in the examination phase of IRS audits for the tax years 2013 and 2014 and expect these audits to be completed within the next 12 and 24 months, respectively. We participate in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Process, which means we work with the IRS throughout the year in order to resolve any material issues prior to the filing of our annual tax return. We are also currently undergoing audits by various state and local jurisdictions for tax years that date back to 2005, with the exception of affirmative claims in one jurisdiction that date back to 2000. We are not currently under audit in Canada and all tax years prior to 2009 are closed. In July 2011, we acquired Oakleaf Global Holdings (“Oakleaf”), which is subject to potential IRS examinations for the years 2010 and 2011. Pursuant to the terms of our acquisition of Oakleaf, we are entitled to indemnification for Oakleaf’s pre-acquisition period tax liabilities. We maintain a liability for uncertain tax positions, the balance of which management believes is adequate. Results of audit assessments by taxing authorities are not currently expected to have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or cash flows.

Segment_and_Related_Informatio

Segment and Related Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment and Related Information	'
	8	Segment and Related Information
	Our senior management evaluates, oversees and manages the financial performance of our Solid Waste subsidiaries through our 17 geographic Areas. These 17 Areas constitute our operating segments and none of the Areas individually meet the quantitative criteria to be a separate reportable segment. We have evaluated the aggregation criteria and concluded that, based on the similarities between our Areas, including the fact that our Solid Waste business is homogenous across geography with the same services offered across the Areas, aggregation of our Areas is appropriate for purposes of presenting our reportable segments. Accordingly, we have aggregated our 17 Areas into three tiers that we believe have similar economic characteristics and future prospects based in large part on a review of the Areas’ income from operations margins. The economic variations experienced by our Areas is attributable to a variety of factors, including regulatory environment of the Area; economic environment of the Area, including level of commercial and industrial activity; population density; service offering mix and disposal logistics, with no one factor being singularly determinative of an Area’s current or future economic performance. As a result of our consideration of economic and other similarities, we have established the following three reportable segments for our Solid Waste business: Tier 1, which is comprised almost exclusively of Areas in the Southern United States; Tier 2, which is comprised predominately of Areas located in the Midwest and Northeast United States; and Tier 3, which encompasses all remaining Areas, including the Northwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States and Eastern Canada. Our Wheelabrator business, which manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants, continues to be a separate reportable segment as it meets one of the quantitative disclosure thresholds. The operating segments not evaluated and overseen through the 17 Areas and Wheelabrator are presented herein as “Other” as these operating segments do not meet the criteria to be aggregated with other operating segments and do not meet the quantitative criteria to be separately reported.
	Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments is shown in the following table (in millions):
			Gross		Intercompany			Net		Income
			Operating		Operating			Operating		from
			Revenues		Revenues			Revenues		Operations
	Three Months Ended:
	March 31, 2014
	Solid Waste:
	Tier 1		$	850	$	(129	)	$	721	$	218
	Tier 2			1,502		(268	)		1,234		284
	Tier 3			847		(135	)		712		124
	Solid Waste			3,199		(532	)		2,667		626
	Wheelabrator			230		(27	)		203		34
	Other			547		(21	)		526		(18	)
				3,976		(580	)		3,396		642
	Corporate and Other			—		—			—		(173	)
	Total		$	3,976	$	(580	)	$	3,396	$	469
	March 31, 2013
	Solid Waste:
	Tier 1		$	843	$	(133	)	$	710	$	207
	Tier 2			1,516		(275	)		1,241		298
	Tier 3			826		(128	)		698		109
	Solid Waste			3,185		(536	)		2,649		614
	Wheelabrator			205		(27	)		178		9
	Other			534		(25	)		509		(41	)
				3,924		(588	)		3,336		582
	Corporate and Other			—		—			—		(180	)
	Total		$	3,924	$	(588	)	$	3,336	$	402
	During the first quarter of 2014, we experienced significantly higher revenues in our Wheelabrator business and the renewable energy operations in Solid Waste from temporarily higher electricity prices driven by weather-related demand. This increase in revenues offset reduced revenues in our collection and disposal operations due to inclement weather.
	Fluctuations in our operating results may be caused by many factors, including period-to-period changes in the relative contribution of revenue by each line of business, changes in commodity prices and by general economic conditions. In addition, our revenues and income from operations typically reflect seasonal patterns. Our operating revenues tend to be somewhat higher in the summer months, primarily due to the higher volume of construction and demolition waste. The volumes of industrial and residential waste in certain regions where we operate also tend to increase during the summer months. Our second and third quarter revenues and results of operations typically reflect these seasonal trends. The operating results of our first quarter also often reflect higher repair and maintenance expenses because we rely on the slower winter months, when waste flows are generally lower, to perform scheduled maintenance at our waste-to-energy facilities.
	Service disruptions caused by severe storms, extended periods of inclement weather or climate extremes can significantly affect the operating results of the affected Areas. On the other hand, certain destructive weather conditions that tend to occur during the second half of the year, such as the hurricanes that most often impact our operations in the Southern and Eastern U.S., can actually increase our revenues in the areas affected. While weather-related and other “one-time” occurrences can boost revenues through additional work for a limited time span, as a result of significant start-up costs and other factors, such revenue sometimes generates earnings at comparatively lower margins.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions	'
	9	Acquisitions
	Greenstar, LLC — On January 31, 2013, we paid $170 million inclusive of certain adjustments to acquire Greenstar, LLC (“Greenstar”). Pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement, up to an additional $40 million is payable to the sellers during the period from 2014 to 2018, of which $20 million is guaranteed. The remaining $20 million of this consideration is contingent, based on changes in certain recyclable commodity indexes, and had a preliminary estimated fair value at closing of $16 million. Greenstar was an operator of recycling and resource recovery facilities. This acquisition provides the Company’s customers with greater access to recycling solutions, having supplemented our extensive nationwide recycling network with the operations of one of the nation’s largest private recyclers.
	Goodwill of $122 million was calculated as the excess of the consideration paid over the net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Goodwill has been assigned predominantly to our Areas and, to a lesser extent, our recycling brokerage services, as they are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Goodwill related to this acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes. There were no material adjustments to the purchase price allocation from the date of acquisition.
	RCI Environnement, Inc. — On July 5, 2013, we paid C$509 million, or $481 million, to acquire substantially all of the assets of RCI Environnement, Inc. (“RCI”), the largest waste management company in Quebec, and certain related entities. Total consideration, inclusive of amounts for estimated working capital, was C$515 million, or $487 million. RCI provides collection, transfer, recycling and disposal operations throughout the Greater Montreal area. The acquired RCI operations complement and expand the Company’s existing assets and operations in Quebec.
	Goodwill of $191 million was calculated as the excess of the consideration paid over the net assets recognized and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. Goodwill has been assigned to our Eastern Canada Area as it is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. A portion of goodwill related to this acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes in accordance with Canadian tax law.
	The allocation of the purchase price for the Greenstar acquisition is final. The allocation of the purchase price for the RCI acquisition is preliminary and subject to change based on the finalization of our detailed valuations. The following table presents the final allocation of the purchase price for Greenstar and adjustments since the acquisition date to the allocation of the purchase price for RCI (in millions):
						RCI
			Greenstar			July 5,			Adjustments			March 31,
						2013						2014
	Accounts and other receivables		$	30		$	32		$	—		$	32
	Parts and supplies			4			—			—			—
	Other current assets			2			—			—			—
	Property and equipment			58			118			(1	)		117
	Goodwill			122			177			14			191
	Other intangible assets			32			169			—			169
	Accounts payable			(17	)		—			—			—
	Accrued liabilities			(12	)		—			—			—
	Deferred revenues			—			(4	)		—			(4	)
	Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities			(2	)		(1	)		—			(1	)
	Deferred income taxes, net			—			—			(14	)		(14	)
	Current portion of long-term debt			(4	)		—			—			—
	Long-term debt, less current portion			(2	)		(4	)		1			(3	)
	Other liabilities			(5	)		—			—			—
	Total purchase price		$	206		$	487		$	—		$	487
	The following table presents the final and preliminary allocations of the purchase price for Greenstar and RCI, respectively, to other intangible assets (amounts in millions, except for amortization periods):
			Greenstar						RCI
			Amount			Weighted Average			Amount			Weighted Average
						Amortization						Amortization
						Periods						Periods
						(in Years)						(in Years)
	Customer relationships		$	—			—		$	162			15
	Supplier relationships			31			10			—			—
	Lease agreements			1			8.4			—			—
	Trade name			—			—			7			5
	Total other intangible assets subject to amortization		$	32			10		$	169			14.6
	The following pro forma consolidated results of operations have been prepared as if the acquisitions of Greenstar and RCI occurred at January 1, 2013 (in millions, except per share amounts):
			Three Months Ended
			March 31, 2013
	Operating revenues		$	3,391
	Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.			167
	Basic earnings per common share			0.36
	Diluted earnings per common share			0.36

Asset_Impairments_and_Unusual_

Asset Impairments and Unusual Items	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Extraordinary And Unusual Items [Abstract]	'
Asset Impairments and Unusual Items	'
	10	Asset Impairments and Unusual Items
	Other income (expense)
	In the first quarter of 2014, we sold our investment in Shanghai Environment Group, which was part of our Wheelabrator business. We received cash proceeds from the sale of $155 million, which have been included in “Proceeds from divestitures of businesses and other assets (net of cash divested)” within “Net cash used in investing activities” in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The losses recognized related to the sale were not material and are recorded in “Other, net” in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	During the first quarter of 2013, we recognized impairment charges of $11 million relating to other-than-temporary declines in the value of investments in waste diversion technology companies accounted for under the cost method. We wrote down the carrying value of our investments to their fair value based on third-party investors’ recent transactions in these securities. These charges are recorded in “Other, net” in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	11	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, which is included as a component of Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity, are as follows (in millions, with amounts in parentheses representing debits to accumulated other comprehensive income):
			Derivative			Available-			Foreign			Post-		Total
			Instruments			for-Sale			Currency			Retirement
						Securities			Translation			Benefit
									Adjustments			Plans
	Balance, December 31, 2013		$	(62	)	$	6		$	208		$	2	$	154
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications net of tax expense (benefit) of $(3), $0, $0 and $0, respectively			(5	)		—			(42	)		—		(47	)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income net of tax (expense) benefit of $(1), $0, $0 and $0, respectively			(1	)		—			(17	)		—		(18	)
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)			(6	)		—			(59	)		—		(65	)
	Balance, March 31, 2014		$	(68	)	$	6		$	149		$	2	$	89
	The amounts of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications associated with our cash flow derivative instruments are as follows (in millions):
			Amount of Derivative Gain (Loss)
			Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)
			Three Months Ended March 31,
	Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges		2014			2013
	Forward-starting interest rate swaps		$	(8	)	$	2
	Foreign currency derivatives			10			7
	Electricity commodity derivatives			(10	)		(10	)
	Total before tax			(8	)		(1	)
	Tax (expense) benefit			3			—
	Net of tax		$	(5	)	$	(1	)
	The significant amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows (in millions, with amounts in parentheses representing debits to the statement of operations classification):
			Amount Reclassified from
			Accumulated Other
			Comprehensive Income
			Three Months Ended March 31,						Statement of
	Detail About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components		2014			2013			Operations Classification
	Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
	Forward-starting interest rate swaps		$	(1	)	$	(2	)	Interest expense
	Treasury rate locks			(1	)		—		Interest expense
	Foreign currency derivatives			13			8		Other, net
	Electricity commodity derivatives			(9	)		(5	)	Operating revenues
				2			1		Total before tax
				(1	)		—		Tax (expense) benefit
	Total reclassifications for the period		$	1		$	1		Net of tax

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	12	Fair Value Measurements
	Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value
	Our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the following (in millions):
					Fair Value Measurements at
					March 31, 2014 Using
			Total		Quoted		Significant		Significant
					Prices in		Other		Unobservable
					Active		Observable		Inputs
					Markets		Inputs		(Level 3)(a)
					(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	83	$	83	$	—	$	—
	Fixed-income securities			36		—		36		—
	Redeemable preferred stock			25		—		—		25
	Foreign currency derivatives			12		—		12		—
	Total assets		$	156	$	83	$	48	$	25
	Liabilities:
	Electricity commodity derivatives		$	4	$	—	$	4	$	—
	Foreign currency derivatives			1		—		1		—
	Total liabilities		$	5	$	—	$	5	$	—
					Fair Value Measurements at
					December 31, 2013 Using
			Total		Quoted		Significant		Significant
					Prices in		Other		Unobservable
					Active		Observable		Inputs
					Markets		Inputs		(Level 3)(a)
					(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	99	$	99	$	—	$	—
	Fixed-income securities			36		—		36		—
	Redeemable preferred stock			25		—		—		25
	Foreign currency derivatives			2		—		2		—
	Total assets		$	162	$	99	$	38	$	25
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate derivatives		$	28	$	—	$	28	$	—
	Electricity commodity derivatives			3		—		3		—
	Total liabilities		$	31	$	—	$	31	$	—
	(a)	Level 3 investments have been measured based on third-party investors’ recent or pending transactions in these securities, which are considered the best evidence of fair value currently available. When this evidence is not available, we use other valuation techniques as appropriate and available. These valuation methodologies may include transactions in similar instruments, discounted cash flow analysis, third-party appraisals or industry multiples and public comparables. There has not been any significant change in the fair value of the redeemable preferred stock since our assessment at December 31, 2013.
	Fair Value of Debt
	At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value of our debt was approximately $10.2 billion. The carrying value of our debt includes adjustments associated with fair value hedge accounting related to our interest rate swaps as discussed in Note 4.
	The estimated fair value of our debt was approximately $11.2 billion at March 31, 2014 and approximately $11.0 billion at December 31, 2013. The estimated fair value of our senior notes is based on quoted market prices. The carrying value of remarketable debt and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rates. The fair value of our other debt is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on current market rates for similar types of instruments.
	Although we have determined the estimated fair value amounts using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, our estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we, or holders of the instruments, could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values. The fair value estimates are based on Level 2 inputs of the fair value hierarchy available as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. These amounts have not been revalued since those dates, and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly from the amounts presented.

Variable_Interest_Entities

Variable Interest Entities	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Variable Interest Entities	'
	13	Variable Interest Entities
	Following is a description of our financial interests in variable interest entities that we consider significant, including (i) those for which we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the entity and, therefore, have consolidated the entities into our financial statements; (ii) those that represent a significant interest in an unconsolidated entity and (iii) trusts for final capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation obligations for both consolidated and unconsolidated variable interest entities.
	Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
	Waste-to-Energy LLCs — In June 2000, two limited liability companies were established to purchase interests in existing leveraged lease financings at three waste-to-energy facilities that we lease, operate and maintain. We own a 0.5% interest in one of the LLCs (“LLC I”) and a 0.25% interest in the second LLC (“LLC II”). John Hancock Life Insurance Company (“Hancock”) owns 99.5% of LLC I and 99.75% of LLC II is owned by LLC I and the CIT Group (“CIT”). In 2000, Hancock and CIT made an initial investment of $167 million in the LLCs, which was used to purchase the three waste-to-energy facilities and assume the seller’s indebtedness. Under the LLC agreements, the LLCs shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a written decision of all members of the LLCs; (ii) December 31, 2063; (iii) a court’s dissolution of the LLCs or (iv) the LLCs ceasing to own any interest in the waste-to-energy facilities.
	Income, losses and cash flows of the LLCs are allocated to the members based on their initial equity ownership percentages until Hancock and CIT achieve targeted returns on their initial capital investments in each respective LLC. All allocations made through March 31, 2014 have been based on initial equity ownership percentages as the target returns have not yet been achieved for either LLC. We currently expect Hancock and CIT to achieve their targeted return on LLC II in early 2015 and Hancock to achieve its targeted return on LLC I in mid-2015. After the investors have achieved their targeted returns, the LLC agreements provide that we will receive 80% of the earnings of each of the LLCs and Hancock and CIT will be allocated the remaining 20%.
	Our obligations associated with our interests in the LLCs are primarily related to the lease of the facilities. In addition to our minimum lease payment obligations, we are required to make cash payments to the LLCs for differences between fair market rents and our minimum lease payments. These payments are subject to adjustment based on factors that include the fair market value of rents for the facilities and lease payments made through the re-measurement dates. In addition, we may also be required under certain circumstances to make capital contributions to the LLCs based on differences between the fair market value of the facilities and defined termination values as provided for in the underlying lease agreements, although we believe the likelihood of the occurrence of these circumstances is remote.
	We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the LLCs and consolidate these entities in our Consolidated Financial Statements because (i) all of the equity owners of the LLCs are considered related parties for purposes of applying this accounting guidance; (ii) the equity owners share power over the significant activities of the LLCs and (iii) we are the entity within the related party group whose activities are most closely associated with the LLCs.
	As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included $281 million and $284 million, respectively, of net property and equipment associated with the LLCs’ waste-to-energy facilities and $247 million and $239 million, respectively, in noncontrolling interests associated with Hancock’s and CIT’s interests in the LLCs. During each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized reductions in earnings of $11 million for Hancock’s and CIT’s noncontrolling interests in the LLCs’ earnings which are included in our consolidated net income. The LLCs’ earnings relate to the rental income generated from leasing the facilities to our subsidiaries, reduced by depreciation expense. The LLCs’ rental income is eliminated in WM’s consolidation.
	Significant Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
	Investment in U.K. Waste-to-Energy and Recycling Entity — In the first quarter of 2012, we formed a U.K. joint venture (the “JV”), together with a commercial waste management company (“Partner”), to develop, construct, operate and maintain a waste-to-energy and recycling facility in England. We own a 50% interest in the JV. The total cost of constructing this facility was expected to be £200 million, or $333 million, based on the exchange rate as of March 31, 2014. The JV was to be funded primarily through loans from the joint venture partners and loans under the JV’s credit facility agreements with third-party financial institutions. We committed to provide funding of up to £57 million, or $95 million, based on the exchange rate as of March 31, 2014. Through March 31, 2014, we had funded approximately £12 million, or $20 million, through loans and less than $1 million through equity contributions. These amounts are included in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as long-term “Other assets” and “Investments in unconsolidated entities,” respectively. In addition to the funding commitments described above, the JV has entered into certain foreign currency and interest rate derivatives at the direction of the Norfolk County Council (the “Council”), which awarded the project to the JV. The impacts of gains or losses incurred on these derivatives will ultimately be remitted to or recoverable from the Council under the terms of the project, and accordingly, are not reflected in our “Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities.”
	We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the JV, as all major decisions of the JV require either majority vote or unanimous consent of the directors (who are appointed in equal numbers by us and our Partner) or unanimous consent of the two shareholders of the JV. As such, our Partner shares equally in the power to direct the activities of the JV that most significantly impact its economic performance. Accordingly, we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting and do not consolidate this entity.
	On April 7, 2014, the Council voted to terminate the project and its agreements with the JV. Unless the Council reverses its decision, which is not currently anticipated, the Council will owe the JV approximately £30 million, or $50 million, based on the exchange rate as of March 31, 2014, comprised of termination fees and reimbursements required by its agreements with the JV. As a result, any impairment resulting from the termination of the project that we record on account of our interest in the JV will not be material.
	Investment in Refined Coal Facility — In January 2011, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company established to invest in and manage a refined coal facility. Along with the other equity investor, we support the operations of the entity in exchange for a pro-rata share of the tax credits it generates. Our initial consideration for this investment consisted of a cash payment of $48 million. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our investment balance was $31 million and $27 million, respectively, representing our current maximum pre-tax exposure to loss. Under the terms and conditions of the transaction, we do not believe that we have any material exposure to loss. Required capital contributions commenced in the first quarter of 2013 and will continue through the expiration of the tax credits under Section 45 of the Internal Revenue Code, which occurs at the end of 2019. We are only obligated to make future contributions to the extent tax credits are generated. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of this entity as we do not have the power to individually direct the entity’s activities. Accordingly, we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting and do not consolidate the entity. Additional information related to this investment is discussed in Note 5.
	Investment in Low-Income Housing Properties — In April 2010, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. We support the operations of the entity in exchange for a pro-rata share of the tax credits it generates. Our target return on the investment is guaranteed and, therefore, we do not believe that we have any material exposure to loss. Our consideration for this investment totaled $221 million, which was comprised of a $215 million note payable and an initial cash payment of $6 million. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our investment balance was $123 million and $129 million, respectively, and our debt balance was $122 million and $128 million, respectively. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of this entity as we do not have the power to individually direct the entity’s activities. Accordingly, we account for this investment under the equity method of accounting and do not consolidate the entity. Additional information related to this investment is discussed in Note 5.
	Trusts for Final Capping, Closure, Post-Closure or Environmental Remediation Obligations
	We have significant financial interests in trust funds that were created to settle certain of our final capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation obligations. Generally, we are the sole beneficiary of these restricted balances; however, certain of the funds have been established for the benefit of both the Company and the host community in which we operate. We have determined that these trust funds are variable interest entities; however, we are not the primary beneficiary of these entities because either (i) we do not have the power to direct the significant activities of the trusts or (ii) power over the trusts’ significant activities is shared.
	We account for the trusts for which we are the sole beneficiary as long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. We reflect our interests in the unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities held by these trusts as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income.” These trusts had a fair value of $125 million at March 31, 2014 and at December 31, 2013. Our interests in the trusts that have been established for the benefit of both the Company and the host community in which we operate are accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities and receivables. These amounts are recorded in “Other receivables,” “Investments in unconsolidated entities” and long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, as appropriate. Our investments and receivables related to these trusts had an aggregate carrying value of $110 million as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	As the party with primary responsibility to fund the related final capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation activities, we are exposed to risk of loss as a result of potential changes in the fair value of the assets of the trust. The fair value of trust assets can fluctuate due to (i) changes in the market value of the investments held by the trusts and (ii) credit risk associated with trust receivables. Although we are exposed to changes in the fair value of the trust assets, we currently expect the trust funds to continue to meet the statutory requirements for which they were established.

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements	'
	14	Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
	WM Holdings has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WM’s senior indebtedness. WM has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WM Holdings’ senior indebtedness. None of WM’s other subsidiaries have guaranteed any of WM’s or WM Holdings’ debt. As a result of these guarantee arrangements, we are required to present the following condensed consolidating financial information (in millions):
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
	March 31, 2014
	(Unaudited)
			WM			WM			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
						Holdings			Subsidiaries
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	—		$	—		$	339		$	—		$	339
	Other current assets			—			6			2,190			—			2,196
				—			6			2,529			—			2,535
	Property and equipment, net			—			—			12,170			—			12,170
	Investments in and advances to affiliates			12,136			16,519			4,498			(33,153	)		—
	Other assets			41			12			7,684			—			7,737
	Total assets		$	12,177		$	16,537		$	26,881		$	(33,153	)	$	22,442
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term debt		$	772		$	—		$	444		$	—		$	1,216
	Accounts payable and other current liabilities			65			5			2,071			—			2,141
				837			5			2,515			—			3,357
	Long-term debt, less current portion			5,603			449			2,926			—			8,978
	Other liabilities			—			—			4,068			—			4,068
	Total liabilities			6,440			454			9,509			—			16,403
	Equity:
	Stockholders’ equity			5,737			16,083			17,070			(33,153	)		5,737
	Noncontrolling interests			—			—			302			—			302
				5,737			16,083			17,372			(33,153	)		6,039
	Total liabilities and equity		$	12,177		$	16,537		$	26,881		$	(33,153	)	$	22,442
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
	December 31, 2013
						WM			Non-Guarantor
			WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	—		$	—		$	58		$	—		$	58
	Other current assets			—			6			2,435			—			2,441
				—			6			2,493			—			2,499
	Property and equipment, net			—			—			12,344			—			12,344
	Investments in and advances to affiliates			12,133			16,246			4,268			(32,647	)		—
	Other assets			42			12			7,706			—			7,760
	Total assets		$	12,175		$	16,264		$	26,811		$	(32,647	)	$	22,603
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term debt		$	587		$	—		$	139		$	—		$	726
	Accounts payable and other current liabilities			109			13			2,166			—			2,288
				696			13			2,305			—			3,014
	Long-term debt, less current portion			5,772			449			3,279			—			9,500
	Other liabilities			—			—			4,087			—			4,087
	Total liabilities			6,468			462			9,671			—			16,601
	Equity:
	Stockholders’ equity			5,707			15,802			16,845			(32,647	)		5,707
	Noncontrolling interests			—			—			295			—			295
				5,707			15,802			17,140			(32,647	)		6,002
	Total liabilities and equity		$	12,175		$	16,264		$	26,811		$	(32,647	)	$	22,603
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(Unaudited)
						WM			Non-Guarantor
			WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Operating revenues		$	—		$	—		$	3,396		$	—		$	3,396
	Costs and expenses			—			—			2,927			—			2,927
	Income from operations			—			—			469			—			469
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net			(87	)		(8	)		(26	)		—			(121	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			281			286			—			(567	)		—
Other, net			—			—			(12	)		—			(12	)
			194			278			(38	)		(567	)		(133	)
Income before income taxes			194			278			431			(567	)		336
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			(34	)		(3	)		136			—			99
Consolidated net income			228			281			295			(567	)		237
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			—			—			9			—			9
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.		$	228		$	281		$	286		$	(567	)	$	228
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Operating revenues		$	—		$	—		$	3,336		$	—		$	3,336
Costs and expenses			—			—			2,934			—			2,934
Income from operations			—			—			402			—			402
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net			(89	)		(8	)		(24	)		—			(121	)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			222			227			—			(449	)		—
Other, net			—			—			(19	)		—			(19	)
			133			219			(43	)		(449	)		(140	)
Income before income taxes			133			219			359			(449	)		262
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			(35	)		(3	)		124			—			86
Consolidated net income			168			222			235			(449	)		176
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests			—			—			8			—			8
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.		$	168		$	222		$	227		$	(449	)	$	168
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Comprehensive income		$	224		$	281		$	234		$	(567	)	$	172
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests			—			—			9			—			9
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.		$	224		$	281		$	225		$	(567	)	$	163
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
Comprehensive income		$	170		$	222		$	200		$	(449	)	$	143
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests			—			—			8			—			8
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.		$	170		$	222		$	192		$	(449	)	$	135
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income		$	228		$	281		$	295		$	(567	)	$	237
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			(281	)		(286	)		—			567			—
Other adjustments			(54	)		(8	)		409			—			347
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(107	)		(13	)		704			—			584
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			—			—			(11	)		—			(11	)
Capital expenditures			—			—			(266	)		—			(266	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			—			—			166			—			166
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			—			—			(11	)		—			(11	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			—			—			(122	)		—			(122	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			870			—			43			—			913
Debt repayments			(850	)		—			(78	)		—			(928	)
Cash dividends			(174	)		—			—			—			(174	)
Exercise of common stock options			14			—			—			—			14
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other			1			—			(5	)		—			(4	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net			246			13			(259	)		—			—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			107			13			(299	)		—			(179	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			—			—			(2	)		—			(2	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			—			—			281			—			281
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			—			—			58			—			58
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	—		$	—		$	339		$	—		$	339
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income		$	168		$	222		$	235		$	(449	)	$	176
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes			(222	)		(227	)		—			449			—
Other adjustments			(16	)		(8	)		425			—			401
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(70	)		(13	)		660			—			577
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			—			—			(180	)		—			(180	)
Capital expenditures			—			—			(266	)		—			(266	)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets			—			—			37			—			37
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net			—			—			(12	)		—			(12	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			—			—			(421	)		—			(421	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
New borrowings			225			—			19			—			244
Debt repayments			(125	)		—			(26	)		—			(151	)
Cash dividends			(170	)		—			—			—			(170	)
Exercise of common stock options			38			—			—			—			38
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other			6			—			(8	)		—			(2	)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net			181			13			(194	)		—			—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			155			13			(209	)		—			(41	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			—			—			(2	)		—			(2	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			85			—			28			—			113
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			60			—			134			—			194
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	145		$	—		$	162		$	—		$	307

Basis_of_Presentation_Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	The financial statements presented in this report represent the consolidation of Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Waste Management’s wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries; and certain variable interest entities for which Waste Management or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiaries as described in Note 13. Waste Management is a holding company and all operations are conducted by its subsidiaries. When the terms “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are used in this document, those terms refer to Waste Management, Inc., its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities. When we use the term “WM,” we are referring only to Waste Management, Inc., the parent holding company.
	We are North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management environmental services. We partner with our residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers and the communities we serve to manage and reduce waste at each stage from collection to disposal, while recovering valuable resources and creating clean, renewable energy. Our “Solid Waste” business is operated and managed locally by our subsidiaries that focus on distinct geographic areas and provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. Through our subsidiaries, we are also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States.
	We evaluate, oversee and manage the financial performance of our Solid Waste business subsidiaries through our 17 geographic Areas. Our Wheelabrator business provides waste-to-energy services and manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our Solid Waste or Wheelabrator businesses, which are presented in this report as “Other.” Additional information related to our segments can be found in Note 8.
	The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2014 and for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in equity for the periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The financial statements presented herein should be read in connection with the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.
	In preparing our financial statements, we make numerous estimates and assumptions that affect the accounting for and recognition and disclosure of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. We must make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent on future events, cannot be calculated with precision from available data or simply cannot be calculated. In some cases, these estimates are difficult to determine, and we must exercise significant judgment. In preparing our financial statements, the most difficult, subjective and complex estimates and the assumptions that present the greatest amount of uncertainty relate to our accounting for landfills, environmental remediation liabilities, asset impairments, deferred income taxes and reserves associated with our insured and self-insured claims. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.
Reclassifications	'
	Reclassifications
	When necessary, reclassifications have been made to our prior period consolidated financial information in order to conform to the current year presentation.

Landfill_and_Environmental_Rem1

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Liabilities for Landfill and Environmental Remediation Costs	'
	Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs are presented in the table below (in millions):
		March 31, 2014								December 31, 2013
		Landfill			Environmental			Total		Landfill		Environmental		Total
					Remediation							Remediation
	Current (in accrued liabilities)	$	94		$	35		$	129	$	95	$	35	$	130
	Long-term		1,343			189			1,532		1,326		192		1,518
		$	1,437		$	224		$	1,661	$	1,421	$	227	$	1,648
Changes to Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities	'
	The changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the three months ended March 31, 2014 are reflected in the table below (in millions):
		Landfill			Environmental
					Remediation
	December 31, 2012	$	1,338		$	253
	Obligations incurred and capitalized		59			—
	Obligations settled		(71	)		(20	)
	Interest accretion		87			4
	Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions		6			(6	)
	Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		2			(4	)
	December 31, 2013		1,421			227
	Obligations incurred and capitalized		12			—
	Obligations settled		(8	)		(5	)
	Interest accretion		21			1
	Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions		(7	)		1
	Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		(2	)		—
	March 31, 2014	$	1,437		$	224

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Components of Debt	'
	The following table summarizes the major components of debt at each balance sheet date (in millions) and provides the maturities and interest rate ranges of each major category as of March 31, 2014:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	U.S. revolving credit facility, maturing July 2018 (weighted average interest rate of 1.2% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013)	$	790	$	420
	Letter of credit facilities, maturing through December 2016		—		—
	Canadian credit facility and term loan, maturing November 2017 (weighted average effective interest rate of 2.5% at March 31, 2014 and 2.7% at December 31, 2013)		375		414
	Senior notes maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 2.60% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 5.8% at March 31, 2014 and 5.7% at December 31, 2013)		5,933		6,287
	Tax-exempt bonds, maturing through 2045, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.06% to 5.7% (weighted average interest rate of 2.3% at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013)		2,664		2,664
	Capital leases and other, maturing through 2055, interest rates up to 12%		432		441
			10,194		10,226
	Current portion of long-term debt		1,216		726
		$	8,978	$	9,500

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed1

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Recorded in Balance Sheet	'
	The following table summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (in millions):
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location	March 31,		December 31,
			2014		2013
	Foreign currency derivatives	Long-term other assets	$	12	$	2
	Total derivative assets		$	12	$	2
	Electricity commodity derivatives	Current accrued liabilities	$	4	$	3
	Foreign currency derivatives	Current accrued liabilities		1		—
	Interest rate derivatives	Current accrued liabilities		—		28
	Total derivative liabilities		$	5	$	31

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Common Share Data Used for Computing Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	'
	Basic and diluted earnings per share were computed using the following common share data (shares in millions):
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014			2013
	Number of common shares outstanding at end of period		465.3			466.5
	Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding		(0.1	)		(0.8	)
	Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		465.2			465.7
	Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares		1.7			0.8
	Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		466.9			466.5
	Potentially issuable shares		14.4			15.4
	Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding		2.8			7.3

Segment_and_Related_Informatio1

Segment and Related Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Reportable Segments	'
	Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments is shown in the following table (in millions):
		Gross		Intercompany			Net		Income
		Operating		Operating			Operating		from
		Revenues		Revenues			Revenues		Operations
	Three Months Ended:
	March 31, 2014
	Solid Waste:
	Tier 1	$	850	$	(129	)	$	721	$	218
	Tier 2		1,502		(268	)		1,234		284
	Tier 3		847		(135	)		712		124
	Solid Waste		3,199		(532	)		2,667		626
	Wheelabrator		230		(27	)		203		34
	Other		547		(21	)		526		(18	)
			3,976		(580	)		3,396		642
	Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(173	)
	Total	$	3,976	$	(580	)	$	3,396	$	469
	March 31, 2013
	Solid Waste:
	Tier 1	$	843	$	(133	)	$	710	$	207
	Tier 2		1,516		(275	)		1,241		298
	Tier 3		826		(128	)		698		109
	Solid Waste		3,185		(536	)		2,649		614
	Wheelabrator		205		(27	)		178		9
	Other		534		(25	)		509		(41	)
			3,924		(588	)		3,336		582
	Corporate and Other		—		—			—		(180	)
	Total	$	3,924	$	(588	)	$	3,336	$	402

Acquisitions_Tables

Acquisitions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Purchase Price Allocation	'
	The following table presents the final allocation of the purchase price for Greenstar and adjustments since the acquisition date to the allocation of the purchase price for RCI (in millions):
					RCI
		Greenstar			July 5,			Adjustments			March 31,
					2013						2014
	Accounts and other receivables	$	30		$	32		$	—		$	32
	Parts and supplies		4			—			—			—
	Other current assets		2			—			—			—
	Property and equipment		58			118			(1	)		117
	Goodwill		122			177			14			191
	Other intangible assets		32			169			—			169
	Accounts payable		(17	)		—			—			—
	Accrued liabilities		(12	)		—			—			—
	Deferred revenues		—			(4	)		—			(4	)
	Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities		(2	)		(1	)		—			(1	)
	Deferred income taxes, net		—			—			(14	)		(14	)
	Current portion of long-term debt		(4	)		—			—			—
	Long-term debt, less current portion		(2	)		(4	)		1			(3	)
	Other liabilities		(5	)		—			—			—
	Total purchase price	$	206		$	487		$	—		$	487
Allocation Purchase Price Intangible Assets	'
	The following table presents the final and preliminary allocations of the purchase price for Greenstar and RCI, respectively, to other intangible assets (amounts in millions, except for amortization periods):
		Greenstar						RCI
		Amount			Weighted Average			Amount			Weighted Average
					Amortization						Amortization
					Periods						Periods
					(in Years)						(in Years)
	Customer relationships	$	—			—		$	162			15
	Supplier relationships		31			10			—			—
	Lease agreements		1			8.4			—			—
	Trade name		—			—			7			5
	Total other intangible assets subject to amortization	$	32			10		$	169			14.6
Pro Forma Consolidated Results of Operations	'
	The following pro forma consolidated results of operations have been prepared as if the acquisitions of Greenstar and RCI occurred at January 1, 2013 (in millions, except per share amounts):
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2013
	Operating revenues	$	3,391
	Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.		167
	Basic earnings per common share		0.36
	Diluted earnings per common share		0.36

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, which is included as a component of Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity, are as follows (in millions, with amounts in parentheses representing debits to accumulated other comprehensive income):
		Derivative			Available-			Foreign			Post-		Total
		Instruments			for-Sale			Currency			Retirement
					Securities			Translation			Benefit
								Adjustments			Plans
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	(62	)	$	6		$	208		$	2	$	154
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications net of tax expense (benefit) of $(3), $0, $0 and $0, respectively		(5	)		—			(42	)		—		(47	)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income net of tax (expense) benefit of $(1), $0, $0 and $0, respectively		(1	)		—			(17	)		—		(18	)
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)		(6	)		—			(59	)		—		(65	)
	Balance, March 31, 2014	$	(68	)	$	6		$	149		$	2	$	89
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Reclassifications Associated With Cash Flow Derivative Instruments	'
	The amounts of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications associated with our cash flow derivative instruments are as follows (in millions):
		Amount of Derivative Gain (Loss)
		Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges	2014			2013
	Forward-starting interest rate swaps	$	(8	)	$	2
	Foreign currency derivatives		10			7
	Electricity commodity derivatives		(10	)		(10	)
	Total before tax		(8	)		(1	)
	Tax (expense) benefit		3			—
	Net of tax	$	(5	)	$	(1	)
Reclassification of Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	'
	The significant amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows (in millions, with amounts in parentheses representing debits to the statement of operations classification):
		Amount Reclassified from
		Accumulated Other
		Comprehensive Income
		Three Months Ended March 31,						Statement of
	Detail About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	2014			2013			Operations Classification
	Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
	Forward-starting interest rate swaps	$	(1	)	$	(2	)	Interest expense
	Treasury rate locks		(1	)		—		Interest expense
	Foreign currency derivatives		13			8		Other, net
	Electricity commodity derivatives		(9	)		(5	)	Operating revenues
			2			1		Total before tax
			(1	)		—		Tax (expense) benefit
	Total reclassifications for the period	$	1		$	1		Net of tax

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	Our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the following (in millions):
					Fair Value Measurements at
					March 31, 2014 Using
			Total		Quoted		Significant		Significant
					Prices in		Other		Unobservable
					Active		Observable		Inputs
					Markets		Inputs		(Level 3)(a)
					(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	83	$	83	$	—	$	—
	Fixed-income securities			36		—		36		—
	Redeemable preferred stock			25		—		—		25
	Foreign currency derivatives			12		—		12		—
	Total assets		$	156	$	83	$	48	$	25
	Liabilities:
	Electricity commodity derivatives		$	4	$	—	$	4	$	—
	Foreign currency derivatives			1		—		1		—
	Total liabilities		$	5	$	—	$	5	$	—
					Fair Value Measurements at
					December 31, 2013 Using
			Total		Quoted		Significant		Significant
					Prices in		Other		Unobservable
					Active		Observable		Inputs
					Markets		Inputs		(Level 3)(a)
					(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Assets:
	Money market funds		$	99	$	99	$	—	$	—
	Fixed-income securities			36		—		36		—
	Redeemable preferred stock			25		—		—		25
	Foreign currency derivatives			2		—		2		—
	Total assets		$	162	$	99	$	38	$	25
	Liabilities:
	Interest rate derivatives		$	28	$	—	$	28	$	—
	Electricity commodity derivatives			3		—		3		—
	Total liabilities		$	31	$	—	$	31	$	—
	(a)	Level 3 investments have been measured based on third-party investors’ recent or pending transactions in these securities, which are considered the best evidence of fair value currently available. When this evidence is not available, we use other valuation techniques as appropriate and available. These valuation methodologies may include transactions in similar instruments, discounted cash flow analysis, third-party appraisals or industry multiples and public comparables. There has not been any significant change in the fair value of the redeemable preferred stock since our assessment at December 31, 2013.

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ1

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
	March 31, 2014
	(Unaudited)
		WM			WM			Non-Guarantor			Eliminations			Consolidated
					Holdings			Subsidiaries
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	—		$	—		$	339		$	—		$	339
	Other current assets		—			6			2,190			—			2,196
			—			6			2,529			—			2,535
	Property and equipment, net		—			—			12,170			—			12,170
	Investments in and advances to affiliates		12,136			16,519			4,498			(33,153	)		—
	Other assets		41			12			7,684			—			7,737
	Total assets	$	12,177		$	16,537		$	26,881		$	(33,153	)	$	22,442
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	772		$	—		$	444		$	—		$	1,216
	Accounts payable and other current liabilities		65			5			2,071			—			2,141
			837			5			2,515			—			3,357
	Long-term debt, less current portion		5,603			449			2,926			—			8,978
	Other liabilities		—			—			4,068			—			4,068
	Total liabilities		6,440			454			9,509			—			16,403
	Equity:
	Stockholders’ equity		5,737			16,083			17,070			(33,153	)		5,737
	Noncontrolling interests		—			—			302			—			302
			5,737			16,083			17,372			(33,153	)		6,039
	Total liabilities and equity	$	12,177		$	16,537		$	26,881		$	(33,153	)	$	22,442
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
	December 31, 2013
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	ASSETS
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	—		$	—		$	58		$	—		$	58
	Other current assets		—			6			2,435			—			2,441
			—			6			2,493			—			2,499
	Property and equipment, net		—			—			12,344			—			12,344
	Investments in and advances to affiliates		12,133			16,246			4,268			(32,647	)		—
	Other assets		42			12			7,706			—			7,760
	Total assets	$	12,175		$	16,264		$	26,811		$	(32,647	)	$	22,603
	LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
	Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term debt	$	587		$	—		$	139		$	—		$	726
	Accounts payable and other current liabilities		109			13			2,166			—			2,288
			696			13			2,305			—			3,014
	Long-term debt, less current portion		5,772			449			3,279			—			9,500
	Other liabilities		—			—			4,087			—			4,087
	Total liabilities		6,468			462			9,671			—			16,601
	Equity:
	Stockholders’ equity		5,707			15,802			16,845			(32,647	)		5,707
	Noncontrolling interests		—			—			295			—			295
			5,707			15,802			17,140			(32,647	)		6,002
	Total liabilities and equity	$	12,175		$	16,264		$	26,811		$	(32,647	)	$	22,603
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,396		$	—		$	3,396
	Costs and expenses		—			—			2,927			—			2,927
	Income from operations		—			—			469			—			469
	Other income (expense):
	Interest expense, net		(87	)		(8	)		(26	)		—			(121	)
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		281			286			—			(567	)		—
	Other, net		—			—			(12	)		—			(12	)
			194			278			(38	)		(567	)		(133	)
	Income before income taxes		194			278			431			(567	)		336
	Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(34	)		(3	)		136			—			99
	Consolidated net income		228			281			295			(567	)		237
	Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			9			—			9
	Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	228		$	281		$	286		$	(567	)	$	228
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Operating revenues	$	—		$	—		$	3,336		$	—		$	3,336
	Costs and expenses		—			—			2,934			—			2,934
	Income from operations		—			—			402			—			402
	Other income (expense):
	Interest expense, net		(89	)		(8	)		(24	)		—			(121	)
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		222			227			—			(449	)		—
	Other, net		—			—			(19	)		—			(19	)
			133			219			(43	)		(449	)		(140	)
	Income before income taxes		133			219			359			(449	)		262
	Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(35	)		(3	)		124			—			86
	Consolidated net income		168			222			235			(449	)		176
	Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			8			—			8
	Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	168		$	222		$	227		$	(449	)	$	168
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
	(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Comprehensive income	$	224		$	281		$	234		$	(567	)	$	172
	Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			9			—			9
	Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	224		$	281		$	225		$	(567	)	$	163
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	Comprehensive income	$	170		$	222		$	200		$	(449	)	$	143
	Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—			8			—			8
	Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$	170		$	222		$	192		$	(449	)	$	135
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	'
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Cash flows from operating activities:
	Consolidated net income	$	228		$	281		$	295		$	(567	)	$	237
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(281	)		(286	)		—			567			—
	Other adjustments		(54	)		(8	)		409			—			347
	Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(107	)		(13	)		704			—			584
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(11	)		—			(11	)
	Capital expenditures		—			—			(266	)		—			(266	)
	Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			166			—			166
	Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		—			—			(11	)		—			(11	)
	Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		—			—			(122	)		—			(122	)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	New borrowings		870			—			43			—			913
	Debt repayments		(850	)		—			(78	)		—			(928	)
	Cash dividends		(174	)		—			—			—			(174	)
	Exercise of common stock options		14			—			—			—			14
	Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		1			—			(5	)		—			(4	)
	(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		246			13			(259	)		—			—
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		107			13			(299	)		—			(179	)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			(2	)		—			(2	)
	Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		—			—			281			—			281
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		—			—			58			—			58
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	—		$	—		$	339		$	—		$	339
	CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	(Unaudited)
					WM			Non-Guarantor
		WM			Holdings			Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
	Cash flows from operating activities:
	Consolidated net income	$	168		$	222		$	235		$	(449	)	$	176
	Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes		(222	)		(227	)		—			449			—
	Other adjustments		(16	)		(8	)		425			—			401
	Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(70	)		(13	)		660			—			577
	Cash flows from investing activities:
	Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		—			—			(180	)		—			(180	)
	Capital expenditures		—			—			(266	)		—			(266	)
	Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets		—			—			37			—			37
	Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net		—			—			(12	)		—			(12	)
	Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		—			—			(421	)		—			(421	)
	Cash flows from financing activities:
	New borrowings		225			—			19			—			244
	Debt repayments		(125	)		—			(26	)		—			(151	)
	Cash dividends		(170	)		—			—			—			(170	)
	Exercise of common stock options		38			—			—			—			38
	Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other		6			—			(8	)		—			(2	)
	(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net		181			13			(194	)		—			—
	Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		155			13			(209	)		—			(41	)
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		—			—			(2	)		—			(2	)
	Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		85			—			28			—			113
	Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		60			—			134			—			194
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	145		$	—		$	162		$	—		$	307

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
	Areas
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Number of geographical areas	17

Landfill_and_Environmental_Rem2

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities - Liabilities for Landfill and Environmental Remediation Costs (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Site Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total, Environmental Remediation	$224	'	'
Current (in accrued liabilities)	129	130	'
Long-term	1,532	1,518	'
Total	1,661	1,648	'
Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]	'	'	'
Site Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'
Current (in accrued liabilities), Environmental Remediation	35	35	'
Long-term, Environmental Remediation	189	192	'
Total, Environmental Remediation	224	227	253
Landfill Liabilities [Member]	'	'	'
Site Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'
Current (in accrued liabilities)	94	95	'
Long-term	1,343	1,326	'
Total, Landfill Liabilities	$1,437	$1,421	$1,338

Landfill_and_Environmental_Rem3

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities - Changes to Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
			Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]	Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Member]	Landfill Liabilities [Member]	Landfill Liabilities [Member]
Environmental Exit Cost [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance, landfill	'	'	'	'	$1,421	$1,338
Beginning balance, environmental remediation	'	'	227	253	'	'
Obligations incurred and capitalized	'	'	'	'	12	59
Obligations settled	'	'	'	'	-8	-71
Obligations settled	'	'	-5	-20	'	'
Interest accretion	21	23	'	'	21	87
Interest accretion	'	'	1	4	'	'
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions	'	'	'	'	-7	6
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions	'	'	1	-6	'	'
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments	'	'	'	'	-2	2
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments	'	'	'	-4	'	'
Ending balance, landfill	'	'	'	'	1,437	1,421
Ending balance, environmental remediation	$224	'	$224	$227	'	'

Debt_Components_of_Debt_Detail

Debt - Components of Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Senior notes	$5,933	$6,287
Total long-term debt	10,194	10,226
Current portion of long-term debt	1,216	726
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,978	9,500
Capital Leases and Other [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Capital leases and other	432	441
Nontaxable Municipal Bonds [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Capital leases and other	2,664	2,664
U.S. Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Revolving Credit Facility	790	420
Letter of Credit Facilities [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Letter of credit facilities	'	414
Canadian Credit Facility and Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Revolving Credit Facility	$375	$414

Debt_Components_of_Debt_Parent

Debt - Components of Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Senior Notes [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average interest rate	5.80%	5.70%
Interest rate lower range	2.60%	'
Interest rate upper range	7.75%	'
End period of maturity for debt instrument	30-Nov-39	'
Nontaxable Municipal Bonds [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average interest rate	2.30%	2.30%
Interest rate lower range	0.06%	'
Interest rate upper range	5.70%	'
End period of maturity for debt instrument	1-Aug-45	'
Capital Leases and Other [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate upper range	12.00%	'
End period of maturity for debt instrument	31-Dec-55	'
U.S. Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average interest rate	1.20%	1.20%
Maturity date of credit facility	26-Jul-18	'
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
End period of maturity for debt instruments	31-Dec-16	'
Canadian Credit Facility and Term Loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Weighted average interest rate	2.50%	2.70%
Maturity date of credit facility	7-Nov-17	'

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail)

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

USD ($)

USD ($)

Canadian Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]

Canadian Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]

Term Loan [Member]

5.0% Senior Notes Due March 2014 [Member]

6.375% Senior Notes Due in March 2015 [Member]

Nontaxable Municipal Bonds [Member]

U.S. Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

U.S. Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

U.S. Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

$2.25 billion Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Letter Of Credit Facilities [Member]

Letter of Credit Facilities [Member]

Canadian Credit Facility [Member]

Canadian Credit Facility [Member]

CAD

CAD

Canadian Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Canadian Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

Canadian Credit Facility Term Loan [Member]

USD ($)

CAD

CAD

CAD

CAD

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt maturing within twelve months

$498

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior notes

5,933

6,287

'

'

'

350

350

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest rate of senior notes

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

6.38%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tax-exempt bonds, current

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

82

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Outstanding borrowing under credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

790

420

'

790

1,300

'

'

'

Credit Facility, aggregate capacity

2,250

'

'

'

500

'

'

'

2,250

'

150

'

2,650

50

'

'

Tax-exempt bonds subject to re-pricing within next 12 months

874

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Short-term borrowings outstanding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

420

'

'

'

'

Debt maturing within twelve months classified as long-term

576

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

370

'

'

'

'

Current debt obligations

1,216

726

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity date of credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

26-Jul-18

'

'

'

31-Dec-16

'

'

'

Letter of credit outstanding revolving credit facility

'

'

0

0

'

'

'

'

884

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unused and available credit capacity

576

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Credit facility borrowings

'

'

'

10

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Term credit, maturity date

'

'

'2017-11

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net borrowings (repayments) under credit facility

'

'

'

'

'

$350

'

'

$370

'

'

'

'

'

$23

25

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed2

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Fair Values of Derivative Instruments Recorded in Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign currency derivatives	$12	$2
Derivative assets designated as hedging instruments	12	2
Electricity commodity derivatives	4	3
Foreign currency derivatives	1	'
Interest rate derivatives	'	28
Derivative liabilities designated as hedging instruments	5	31
Long-term other assets [Member] | Foreign currency derivatives[Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign currency derivatives	12	2
Current accrued liabilities [Member] | Foreign currency derivatives[Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Foreign currency derivatives	1	'
Current accrued liabilities [Member] | Electricity commodity derivatives [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Electricity commodity derivatives	4	3
Current accrued liabilities [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate derivatives	'	$28

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed3

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Additional Information (Detail)

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Interest Rate Swaps [Member]

Interest Rate Swaps [Member]

Interest Rate Swaps [Member]

Foreign currency derivatives [Member]

Foreign currency derivatives [Member]

Foreign currency derivatives [Member]

Foreign currency derivatives [Member]

Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Forward Starting Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Electricity commodity derivatives [Member]

Electricity commodity derivatives [Member]

Electricity commodity derivatives [Member]

Electricity commodity derivatives [Member]

Fair Value Hedge [Member]

Fair Value Hedge [Member]

Fair Value Hedge [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

Cash Flow Hedging [Member]

MW

Forecast [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

CAD

October 31, 2016 [Member]

October 31, 2017 [Member]

October 31, 2018 [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

MW

CAD

CAD

CAD

Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Increase in carrying value of debt instruments from fair value hedge accounting for interest rate swaps

$54

$59

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notional amount of derivatives

5

'

5

370

70

150

150

'

175

'

'

'

'

Maximum term of cash flow hedges

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'

'

'

'

'

Cash received (paid) for termination of interest rate swaps

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-36

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred losses, net of taxes, related to cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive income

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

33

34

'

'

'

'

Deferred losses scheduled to be reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive into interest expense over next 12 months, pre-tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$7

'

'

'

'

'

Merchant electricity sales hedged or expected to be hedged

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,730,000

'

'

480,000

Percentage of merchant electricity sales hedged

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

56.00%

'

'

15.00%

Expected percentage of merchant electricity sales hedged

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

17.00%

53.00%

'

Income_Taxes_Additional_inform

Income Taxes - Additional information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'
Effective tax rate	29.60%	32.80%	'
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities	$9	$8	'
Interest expense	121	121	'
Percentage of qualifying capital expenditures on property depreciated immediately	'	'	50.00%
Investment in Refined Coal Facility [Member]	'	'	'
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities	1	1	'
Income tax benefit, including tax credits, from equity method investment	3	3	'
Low-Income Housing Properties [Member]	'	'	'
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities	6	6	'
Income tax benefit, including tax credits, from equity method investment	8	7	'
Interest expense	1	1	'
Tax credits from equity method investment	$5	$4	'

Earnings_Per_Share_Common_Shar

Earnings Per Share - Common Share Data Used for Computing Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'
Number of common shares outstanding at end of period	465.3	466.5
Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding	-0.1	-0.8
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding	465.2	465.7
Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares	1.7	0.8
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding	466.9	466.5
Potentially issuable shares	14.4	15.4
Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding	2.8	7.3

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
	Homeowners
	site
	Landfill
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Credit Facility, aggregate capacity	$2,250,000,000
Term of Guarantees of financial obligations	'Guarantees of unconsolidated entities' financial obligations maturing through 2020
Maximum future payments regarding guarantees of unconsolidated entities financial obligations	9,000,000
Approximate number of homeowners' properties adjacent to or near certain of our landfills with agreements guaranteeing market value	825
Number of landfills adjacent to or near homeowners' properties with agreements guaranteeing market value	20
High end estimate of reasonably possible additional losses associated with environmental remediation liabilities	190,000,000
Environmental remediation liability	224,000,000
Number of sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP	77
Number of owned sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP	14
Number of non-owned sites listed on the EPA's NPL for which we have been notified we are a PRP	63
Dollar threshold for environmental matters requiring disclosure under item 103 of the SEC's Regulation S-K	100,000
Approximate percentage of workforce covered by collective bargaining agreements	20.00%
2013 Audit [Member]	'
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of months expected for IRS audit(s) to be completed	'12 months
2014 Audit [Member]	'
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Number of months expected for IRS audit(s) to be completed	'24 months
Central States Pension Plan [Member]	'
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Estimate of possible loss	40,000,000
U.S. Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]	'
Credit Facility, aggregate capacity	$2,250,000,000

Segment_and_Related_Informatio2

Segment and Related Information - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
	Areas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Number of geographical areas	17
Solid Waste [Member]	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'
Number of reportable segments	3

Segment_and_Related_Informatio3

Segment and Related Information - Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	$3,396	$3,336
Income from operations	469	402
Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	3,976	3,924
Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-580	-588
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	721	710
Income from operations	218	207
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	850	843
Solid Waste: Tier 1 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-129	-133
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	1,234	1,241
Income from operations	284	298
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	1,502	1,516
Solid Waste: Tier 2 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-268	-275
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	712	698
Income from operations	124	109
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	847	826
Solid Waste: Tier 3 [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-135	-128
Solid Waste [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	2,667	2,649
Income from operations	626	614
Solid Waste [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	3,199	3,185
Solid Waste [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-532	-536
Wheelabrator [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	203	178
Income from operations	34	9
Wheelabrator [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	230	205
Wheelabrator [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-27	-27
Other [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	526	509
Income from operations	-18	-41
Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	547	534
Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-21	-25
Operating Group Total [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	3,396	3,336
Income from operations	642	582
Operating Group Total [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	3,976	3,924
Operating Group Total [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	-580	-588
Corporate and Other [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'
Income from operations	-173	-180
Corporate and Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'
Corporate and Other [Member] | Intercompany Operating Revenues [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'

Acquisitions_Additional_Inform

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Jul. 05, 2013	Jul. 05, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
	USD ($)	USD ($)	Greenstar LLC [Member]	Greenstar LLC [Member]	RCI Environnment Inc [Member]	RCI Environnment Inc [Member]	RCI Environnment Inc [Member]
			USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	CAD	USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Acquisition cost of acquired entity	$11	$180	$170	'	$481	509	'
Additional consideration payable	'	'	40	'	'	'	'
Estimated fair value of liability for additional cash payments related to acquisitions	'	'	16	'	'	'	'
Revenues recognized by acquiree	'	'	'	25	'	'	'
Net loss recognized by acquiree	'	'	'	3	'	'	'
Purchase price allocation to goodwill	'	'	122	'	'	'	191
Total consideration, net of cash acquired, for business acquisitions closed during the year	'	'	'	'	$487	515	'

Acquisitions_Purchase_Price_Al

Acquisitions - Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Jul. 05, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Greenstar LLC [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts and other receivables	$30	'
Parts and supplies	4	'
Other current assets	2	'
Property and equipment	58	'
Goodwill	122	'
Other intangible assets	32	'
Accounts payable	-17	'
Accrued liabilities	-12	'
Deferred revenues	'	'
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities	-2	'
Deferred income taxes, net	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	-4	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	-2	'
Other liabilities	-5	'
Total purchase price	206	'
RCI Environnment Inc [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts and other receivables	32	32
Parts and supplies	'	'
Other current assets	'	'
Property and equipment	117	118
Goodwill	191	177
Other intangible assets	169	169
Accounts payable	'	'
Accrued liabilities	'	'
Deferred revenues	-4	-4
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities	-1	-1
Deferred income taxes, net	-14	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	-3	-4
Other liabilities	'	'
Total purchase price	487	487
RCI Environnment Inc [Member] | Adjustments [Member]	'	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts and other receivables	'	'
Parts and supplies	'	'
Other current assets	'	'
Property and equipment	-1	'
Goodwill	14	'
Other intangible assets	'	'
Accounts payable	'	'
Accrued liabilities	'	'
Deferred revenues	'	'
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities	'	'
Deferred income taxes, net	-14	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	1	'
Other liabilities	'	'
Total purchase price	'	'

Acquisitions_Preliminary_Purch

Acquisitions - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation of Other Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Greenstar LLC [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$32
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period	'10 years
Greenstar LLC [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	'
Greenstar LLC [Member] | Supplier Relationships [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	31
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period	'10 years
Greenstar LLC [Member] | Lease Agreements [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	1
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period	'8 years 4 months 24 days
Greenstar LLC [Member] | Trade Name [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	'
RCI Environnment Inc [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	169
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period	'14 years 7 months 6 days
RCI Environnment Inc [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	162
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period	'15 years
RCI Environnment Inc [Member] | Supplier Relationships [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	'
RCI Environnment Inc [Member] | Lease Agreements [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	'
RCI Environnment Inc [Member] | Trade Name [Member]	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Total intangible assets subject to amortization	$7
Total other intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted average amortization period	'5 years

Acquisitions_Pro_Forma_Consoli

Acquisitions - Pro Forma Consolidated Results of Operations (Detail) (Greenstar LLC [Member], RCI Environnment Inc [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013
Greenstar LLC [Member] | RCI Environnment Inc [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Operating revenues	$3,391
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$167
Basic earnings per common share	$0.36
Diluted earnings per common share	$0.36

Asset_Impairments_and_Unusual_1

Asset Impairments and Unusual Items - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Extraordinary And Unusual Items [Abstract]	'	'
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses and other assets (net of cash divested)	$155	'
Impairment charge relating to decline in value of investment accounted under cost method	'	$11

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Beginning balance	$154	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	-47	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	-18	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	-65	-33
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Ending balance	89	'
Derivative Instruments [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Beginning balance	-62	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	-5	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	-1	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	-6	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Ending balance	-68	'
Available-for-Sale Securities [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Beginning balance	6	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Ending balance	6	'
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Beginning balance	208	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	-42	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	-17	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	-59	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Ending balance	149	'
Post - Retirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Beginning balance	2	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax	'	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Ending balance	$2	'

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax	($3)
Derivative Instruments [Member]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax	-3
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, tax	-1
Available-for-Sale Securities [Member]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, tax	0
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, tax	0
Post - Retirement Benefit Plans [Member]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, tax	$0

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv4

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Reclassifications Associated With Cash Flow Derivative Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) on derivatives before tax	($8)	($1)
Tax (expense) benefit	3	'
Net of tax	-5	-1
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) on derivatives before tax	-8	2
Foreign currency derivatives[Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) on derivatives before tax	10	7
Electricity commodity derivatives [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss) on derivatives before tax	($10)	($10)

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv5

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Reclassification of Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Interest expense	($121)	($121)
Other, net	-3	-11
Operating revenues	3,396	3,336
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges, Total before tax	336	262
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges, Tax (expense) benefit	-99	-86
Total reclassifications for the period, Net of tax	237	176
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges, Total before tax	2	1
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges, Tax (expense) benefit	-1	'
Total reclassifications for the period, Net of tax	1	1
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Interest expense	-1	-2
Treasury rate locks [Member] | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Interest expense	-1	'
Foreign currency derivatives[Member] | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Other, net	13	8
Electricity commodity derivatives [Member] | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	($9)	($5)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements - Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets:	'	'
Money market funds	$83	$99
Fixed-income securities	36	36
Redeemable preferred stock	25	25
Foreign currency derivatives	12	2
Total assets	156	162
Liabilities:	'	'
Interest rate derivatives	'	28
Electricity commodity derivatives	4	3
Foreign currency derivatives	1	'
Total liabilities	5	31
Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Money market funds	83	99
Fixed-income securities	'	'
Redeemable preferred stock	'	'
Foreign currency derivatives	'	'
Total assets	83	99
Liabilities:	'	'
Interest rate derivatives	'	'
Electricity commodity derivatives	'	'
Foreign currency derivatives	'	'
Total liabilities	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Money market funds	'	'
Fixed-income securities	36	36
Redeemable preferred stock	'	'
Foreign currency derivatives	12	2
Total assets	48	38
Liabilities:	'	'
Interest rate derivatives	'	28
Electricity commodity derivatives	4	3
Foreign currency derivatives	1	'
Total liabilities	5	31
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Assets:	'	'
Money market funds	'	'
Fixed-income securities	'	'
Redeemable preferred stock	25	25
Foreign currency derivatives	'	'
Total assets	25	25
Liabilities:	'	'
Interest rate derivatives	'	'
Electricity commodity derivatives	'	'
Foreign currency derivatives	'	'
Total liabilities	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying value of debt	$10,194,000,000	$10,226,000,000
Estimated fair value of debt	$11,200,000,000	$11,000,000,000

Variable_Interest_Entities_Add

Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail)

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2000

Jun. 30, 2000

Jun. 30, 2000

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2012

Jan. 31, 2011

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Apr. 30, 2010

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Limited Liability Company II [Member]

Limited Liability Company [Member]

Limited Liability Company [Member]

Limited Liability Company [Member]

Limited Liability Company [Member]

Investment in Recycling and Waste-to-Energy [Member]

Investment in Recycling and Waste-to-Energy [Member]

Investment in Recycling and Waste-to-Energy [Member]

Investment in Refined Coal Facility [Member]

Investment in Refined Coal Facility [Member]

Investment in Refined Coal Facility [Member]

Low-Income Housing Properties [Member]

Low-Income Housing Properties [Member]

Low-Income Housing Properties [Member]

Limited Liability Company II [Member]

Limited Liability Company II [Member]

Limited Liability Company II [Member]

USD ($)

GBP (£)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of ownership in LLC's

'

'

'

0.25%

0.50%

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of variable interest entities owned by other companies

'

'

'

99.75%

99.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total initial investment by other companies

'

'

'

'

'

$167

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Under the LLC agreements, dated June 2000 the LLC shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events

'(i) a written decision of all members of the LLCs; (ii) December 31, 2063; (iii) a court's dissolution of the LLCs or (iv) the LLCs ceasing to own any interest in the waste-to-energy facilities.

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Reporting entity percentage of interest in earnings of variable interest entity after achieving targeted returns

'

'

'

'

'

80.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Other companies percentage of interest in earnings of variable interest entity after achieving targeted returns

'

'

'

'

'

20.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net property and equipment

'

'

'

'

'

'

281

284

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Noncontrolling interests

302

'

295

'

'

'

247

239

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expense recognized for other companies' noncontrolling interests in LLCs earnings

11

11

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expected cost to construct Waste-to-Energy LLC facility

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

333

200

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total commitment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

95

57

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Note receivables balance from the LLC

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20

12

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Investment balance

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

'

31

27

'

123

129

Amount council owe the JV

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50

30

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash payments to acquire equity method investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

48

'

'

6

'

'

Consideration for investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

221

'

'

Value of notes payable included in consideration for investment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

215

'

'

Equity method investments debt balance

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

122

128

Variable interest entities primary beneficiary trust fair value assets

125

'

125

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Carrying value of restricted trust funds and escrow accounts for which company is not the sole beneficiary specifically for future settlement of landfill and environmental remediation liabilities

$110

'

$110

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ2

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$339	$58	$307	$194
Other current assets	2,196	2,441	'	'
Total current assets	2,535	2,499	'	'
Property and equipment, net	12,170	12,344	'	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates	'	'	'	'
Other assets	7,737	7,760	'	'
Total assets	22,442	22,603	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	1,216	726	'	'
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,141	2,288	'	'
Total current liabilities	3,357	3,014	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	8,978	9,500	'	'
Other liabilities	4,068	4,087	'	'
Total liabilities	16,403	16,601	'	'
Equity:	'	'	'	'
Stockholders' equity	5,737	5,707	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	302	295	'	'
Total equity	6,039	6,002	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	22,442	22,603	'	'
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	'
Other current assets	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	'	'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates	-33,153	-32,647	'	'
Other assets	'	'	'	'
Total assets	-33,153	-32,647	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	'	'	'	'
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	'	'	'	'
Equity:	'	'	'	'
Stockholders' equity	-33,153	-32,647	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Total equity	-33,153	-32,647	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	-33,153	-32,647	'	'
WM [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	145	60
Other current assets	'	'	'	'
Total current assets	'	'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates	12,136	12,133	'	'
Other assets	41	42	'	'
Total assets	12,177	12,175	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	772	587	'	'
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	65	109	'	'
Total current liabilities	837	696	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	5,603	5,772	'	'
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	6,440	6,468	'	'
Equity:	'	'	'	'
Stockholders' equity	5,737	5,707	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Total equity	5,737	5,707	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	12,177	12,175	'	'
WM Holdings [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'	'	'
Other current assets	6	6	'	'
Total current assets	6	6	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	'	'	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates	16,519	16,246	'	'
Other assets	12	12	'	'
Total assets	16,537	16,264	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	5	13	'	'
Total current liabilities	5	13	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	449	449	'	'
Other liabilities	'	'	'	'
Total liabilities	454	462	'	'
Equity:	'	'	'	'
Stockholders' equity	16,083	15,802	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Total equity	16,083	15,802	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	16,537	16,264	'	'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Current assets:	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	339	58	162	134
Other current assets	2,190	2,435	'	'
Total current assets	2,529	2,493	'	'
Property and equipment, net	12,170	12,344	'	'
Investments in and advances to affiliates	4,498	4,268	'	'
Other assets	7,684	7,706	'	'
Total assets	26,881	26,811	'	'
Current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	444	139	'	'
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	2,071	2,166	'	'
Total current liabilities	2,515	2,305	'	'
Long-term debt, less current portion	2,926	3,279	'	'
Other liabilities	4,068	4,087	'	'
Total liabilities	9,509	9,671	'	'
Equity:	'	'	'	'
Stockholders' equity	17,070	16,845	'	'
Noncontrolling interests	302	295	'	'
Total equity	17,372	17,140	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	$26,881	$26,811	'	'

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ3

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	$3,396	$3,336
Costs and expenses	2,927	2,934
Income from operations	469	402
Other income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense, net	-121	-121
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	'	'
Other, net	-12	-19
Total other income (expense)	-133	-140
Income before income taxes	336	262
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	99	86
Consolidated net income	237	176
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	8
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	228	168
Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'
Costs and expenses	'	'
Income from operations	'	'
Other income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense, net	'	'
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	-567	-449
Other, net	'	'
Total other income (expense)	-567	-449
Income before income taxes	-567	-449
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	'	'
Consolidated net income	-567	-449
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	-567	-449
WM [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'
Costs and expenses	'	'
Income from operations	'	'
Other income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense, net	-87	-89
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	281	222
Other, net	'	'
Total other income (expense)	194	133
Income before income taxes	194	133
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	-34	-35
Consolidated net income	228	168
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	228	168
WM Holdings [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	'	'
Costs and expenses	'	'
Income from operations	'	'
Other income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense, net	-8	-8
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	286	227
Other, net	'	'
Total other income (expense)	278	219
Income before income taxes	278	219
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	-3	-3
Consolidated net income	281	222
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	281	222
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Operating revenues	3,396	3,336
Costs and expenses	2,927	2,934
Income from operations	469	402
Other income (expense):	'	'
Interest expense, net	-26	-24
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	'	'
Other, net	-12	-19
Total other income (expense)	-38	-43
Income before income taxes	431	359
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	136	124
Consolidated net income	295	235
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	8
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$286	$227

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ4

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Comprehensive income	$172	$143
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	8
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	163	135
Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Comprehensive income	-567	-449
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	-567	-449
WM [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Comprehensive income	224	170
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	224	170
WM Holdings [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Comprehensive income	281	222
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	281	222
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Comprehensive income	234	200
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9	8
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$225	$192

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ5

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Consolidated net income	$237	$176
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	'	'
Other adjustments	347	401
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	584	577
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	-11	-180
Capital expenditures	-266	-266
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	166	37
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net	-11	-12
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-122	-421
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
New borrowings	913	244
Debt repayments	-928	-151
Cash dividends	-174	-170
Exercise of common stock options	14	38
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other	-4	-2
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-179	-41
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-2	-2
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	281	113
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	58	194
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	339	307
Eliminations [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Consolidated net income	-567	-449
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	567	449
Other adjustments	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	'	'
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	'	'
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
New borrowings	'	'
Debt repayments	'	'
Cash dividends	'	'
Exercise of common stock options	'	'
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other	'	'
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	'	'
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	'	'
WM [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Consolidated net income	228	168
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	-281	-222
Other adjustments	-54	-16
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-107	-70
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	'	'
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
New borrowings	870	225
Debt repayments	-850	-125
Cash dividends	-174	-170
Exercise of common stock options	14	38
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other	1	6
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net	246	181
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	107	155
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	'	85
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	'	60
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	'	145
WM Holdings [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Consolidated net income	281	222
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	-286	-227
Other adjustments	-8	-8
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	-13	-13
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	'	'
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net	'	'
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	'	'
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
New borrowings	'	'
Debt repayments	'	'
Cash dividends	'	'
Exercise of common stock options	'	'
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other	'	'
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net	13	13
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	13	13
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	'	'
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Consolidated net income	295	235
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes	'	'
Other adjustments	409	425
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	704	660
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	-11	-180
Capital expenditures	-266	-266
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets	166	37
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net	-11	-12
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-122	-421
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
New borrowings	43	19
Debt repayments	-78	-26
Cash dividends	'	'
Exercise of common stock options	'	'
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other	-5	-8
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net	-259	-194
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-299	-209
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-2	-2
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	281	28
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	58	134
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$339	$162