Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 602	$ 1,207	$ 91
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	40	32
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	603	1,167	59
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income (loss)	(2,534)	(2,580)	(645)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	(2,534)	(2,580)	(645)
WM [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income (loss)	762	1,300	112
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	762	1,300	112
WM Holdings [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,245	1,510	313
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	1,245	1,510	313
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,129	977	311
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	40	32
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Waste Management, Inc.	$ 1,130	$ 937	$ 279