Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Equity [Abstract]

Components 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 decreases to accumulated other comprehensive income):

	Derivative Instruments			Available- for-Sale Securities			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Post- Retirement Benefit Plans			Total
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	(61	)	$	10		$	84		$	(10	)	$	23
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax expense (benefit) of $17, $(1), $0 and $0, respectively		27			(1	)		(128	)		—			(102	)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(11), $0, $0 and $0, respectively		(17	)		—			5			—			(12	)
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)		10			(1	)		(123	)		—			(114	)
Balance, September 30, 2015	$	(51	)	$	9		$	(39	)	$	(10	)	$	(91	)

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 September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges	2015			2014			2015			2014
Forward-starting interest rate swaps	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(8	)
Foreign currency derivatives		23			13			44			11
Electricity commodity derivatives		—			—			—			(8	)
Total before tax		23			13			44			(5	)
Tax (expense) benefit		(9	)		(5	)		(17	)		2
Net of tax	$	14		$	8		$	27		$	(3	)

Reclassification of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income with Cash Flow Derivative Instruments

The amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income associated with our cash flow derivative instruments 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 September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,						Statement of Operations Classification
Detail About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components	2015			2014			2015			2014
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges:
Forward-starting interest rate swaps	$	(4	)	$	(3	)	$	(9	)	$	(8	)	Interest expense
Treasury rate locks		—			—			(3	)		(1	)	Interest expense
Foreign currency derivatives		19			16			40			16		Other, net
Electricity commodity derivatives		—			—			—			(9	)	Operating revenues
		15			13			28			(2	)	Total before tax
		(6	)		(5	)		(11	)		1		Tax (expense) benefit
Total reclassifications for the period	$	9		$	8		$	17		$	(1	)	Net of tax