<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC., FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE
30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                     268,305,000             358,121,000
<SECURITIES>                                 1,462,000               3,053,000
<RECEIVABLES>                            2,175,742,000           2,016,848,000
<ALLOWANCES>                              (95,885,000)            (99,432,000)
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                         2,997,035,000           2,855,913,000
<PP&E>                                  18,086,116,000          17,229,816,000
<DEPRECIATION>                         (5,958,193,000)         (5,612,375,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          22,018,962,000          21,267,362,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                    4,380,973,000           5,007,450,000
<BONDS>                                  9,286,271,000           8,983,019,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                     5,913,000               5,875,000
<OTHER-SE>                               4,990,772,000           4,024,375,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            22,018,962,000          21,267,362,000
<SALES>                                  6,076,238,000           2,901,061,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                         6,076,238,000           2,901,061,000
<CGS>                                    3,623,266,000           1,757,707,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                            5,074,738,000           2,457,162,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          (85,341,000)            (51,130,000)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         325,962,000             153,942,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            760,879,000             341,087,000
<INCOME-TAX>                               341,155,000             161,815,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        419,724,000             179,272,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                            (3,900,000)                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               415,824,000             179,272,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.75                    0.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.73                    0.32