<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950129-04-004571
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20040701
<ITEMS>5
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20040701
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WASTE MANAGEMENT INC
<CIK>0000823768
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4953
<IRS-NUMBER>731309529
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-12154
<FILM-NUMBER>04893397
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1001 FANNIN STREET
<STREET2>STE 4000
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77002
<PHONE>7135126200
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1001 FANNIN STREET
<STREET2>SUITE 4000
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77002
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>USA WASTE SERVICES INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>h16546e8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. - JULY 1, 2004
<TEXT>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
WASHINGTON, DC 20549</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>_________</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 18pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>_________</B>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July&nbsp;1, 2004</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>Waste Management, Inc.</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="31%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD align="center" valign="top">Delaware<BR>
<B>(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">1-12154<BR>
<B>(Commission File Number)</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">73-1309529<BR>
<B>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</B></TD>
</TR>

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    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD align="center" valign="top">1001 Fannin, Suite&nbsp;4000 Houston, Texas<BR>
<B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">77002<BR>
<B>(Zip Code)</B></TD>
</TR>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Registrant&#146;s Telephone number, including area code: </B>(713)&nbsp;512-6200



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</B>



<P>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Other Events</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On July&nbsp;1, 2004, Waste Management, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) filed a prospectus
supplement pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to
its registration statement on Form&nbsp;S-3 (No.&nbsp;333-97697) (the &#147;Registration
Statement&#148;), to register the issuance of 2,347 shares of its common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), upon exercise of an outstanding
warrant of the Company.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company is filing a legal opinion issued in connection with the
issuance of its shares of Common Stock as exhibit 5.1 hereof, to be
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;Exhibits.

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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of John S. Tsai.</TD>
</TR>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

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<TR>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3">WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>Date: July 1, 2004&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ Linda J. Smith
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">Linda J. Smith&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2"><I>Corporate  Secretary</I>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;Index</B>


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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of John S. Tsai.</TD>
</TR>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>h16546exv5w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>OPINION OF JOHN S. TSAI
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<P align="right" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;5.1</B>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&#091;WASTE MANAGEMENT LETTERHEAD&#093;



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">July&nbsp;1, 2004



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Waste Management, Inc.<BR>
1001 Fannin Street, Suite&nbsp;4000<BR>
Houston, Texas 77002


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Gentlemen,



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I am Vice President and Assistant General Counsel &#150; Corporate &#038; Securities
of Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), and have
acted in such capacity in connection with the sale of 2,347 shares of the
Company&#146;s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;),
pursuant to the exercise of a warrant dated August&nbsp;30, 1996 (the &#147;Warrant&#148;).
The 2,347 shares of Common Stock are being issued under a registration
statement on Form&nbsp;S-3 (No.&nbsp;333-97697) filed under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the &#147;Registration Statement&#148;).


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I have examined corporate documents of the Company, including its
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and resolutions adopted by its board
of directors and committees thereof. I have also examined the Registration
Statement, together with the exhibits thereto, and such other documents that I
have deemed necessary for the purposes of expressing the opinion contained
herein. I have relied on representations made by and certificates of the
officers of the Company and public officials with respect to certain facts
material to my opinion. I have made no independent investigation regarding
such representations and certificates.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that when payment for the
shares of Common Stock has been made pursuant to the Warrant, the Common Stock
issued thereupon will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

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    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3">Very truly yours,<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ John S. Tsai
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3">John S. Tsai&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3"><I>Vice President &#038; Assistant General Counsel &#150;
Corporate &#038; Securities</I>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
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</SUBMISSION>
