<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000950129-04-008347
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20041018
<ITEMS>8.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20041102
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041102
<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>041112796
</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>h19193e8vk.htm
<DESCRIPTION>WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.- OCTOBER 18, 2004
<TEXT>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, DC 20549</B>
</DIV>

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

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<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): November&nbsp;2, 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="31%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="3%">&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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<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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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



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

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


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<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#000">Item&nbsp;8.01 Other Items</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#001">Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#002">SIGNATURES</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="h19193exv5w1.htm">Opinion of John S. Tsai</A></TD></TR>
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01 Other Items</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On November&nbsp;2, 2004,
Waste Management, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) issued
7,474&nbsp;shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), to
certain class members in the class action lawsuit filed against it relating to
its earnings announcements in July and August&nbsp;1999. The settlement agreement,
announced in November&nbsp;2001, provided for the issuance to certain class members
of shares of common stock in lieu of the cash they would otherwise
have received as participants in the class. The shares issued equal the amount of cash these
class members would have otherwise received under the settlement agreement,
divided by a thirty day trailing average of the closing price of the Company&#146;s
Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company has filed a
prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to the Company&#146;s registration statement
on Form&nbsp;S&#8209;3, File No.&nbsp;333&#8209;97697 (the &#147;Registration Statement&#148;). Attached as an
Exhibit to this Form 8&#8209;K is a legal opinion relating to the issuance of the
7,474&nbsp;shares to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.

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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits</B>



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


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Opinion of John S. Tsai


<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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    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3">WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>Date: November&nbsp;2, 2004&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">/s/ Rick L Wittenbraker
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2">Rick L Wittenbraker&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2"><I>Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Chief Compliance
Officer</I>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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




<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>5.1</B>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>Opinion of John S. Tsai</B>


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<TYPE>EX-5.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>h19193exv5w1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>OPINION OF JOHN S. TSAI
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&#091;WASTE MANAGEMENT LETTERHEAD&#093;



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">November&nbsp;2, 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 &#151; Corporate &#038; Securities
of Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), and have
acted in such capacity in connection with the issuance of 7,474&nbsp;shares of the
Company&#146;s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;),
pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement, as amended, in <I>In re Waste
Management, Inc. Securities Litigation</I>. The 7,474&nbsp;shares of Common Stock are
being issued under a registration statement on Form&nbsp;S&#8209;3 (No.&nbsp;333&#8209;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
the 7,474&nbsp;shares of
Common Stock have been 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.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 50%">Very truly yours,


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 50%">/s/ John S. Tsai


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 50%">John S. Tsai<BR>
<I>Vice President &#038; Assistant General Counsel -<BR>
Corporate &#038; Securities</I>



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