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Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated net income | $ 334 | $ 304 | $ 286 | $ 256 | $ 273 | $ 337 | $ 273 | $ (131) | $ 1,180 | $ 752 | $ 1,338
Other adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,780 | 1,746 | 993
Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,960 | 2,498 | 2,331
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (611) | (554) | (35)
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,339) | (1,233) | (1,151)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses and other assets (net of cash divested) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43 | 145 | 2,253
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (25) | 34 | (72)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,932) | (1,608) | 995
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New borrowings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,057 | 2,337 | 2,817
Debt repayments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,682) | (2,764) | (3,568)
Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2) | (555) |
Common stock repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (725) | (600) | (600)
Cash dividends |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (726) | (695) | (693)
Exercise of common stock options |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 63 | 77 | 93
Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (20) | 45 | (121)
Net cash used in financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,035) | (2,155) | (2,072)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3) | (5)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (7) | (1,268) | 1,249
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  |  | 39 |  |  |  | 1,307 | 39 | 1,307 | 58
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 32 |  |  |  | 39 |  |  |  | 32 | 39 | 1,307
Eliminations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,748) | (2,534) | (2,580)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,748 | 2,534 | 2,580
WM [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,182 | 753 | 1,298
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,367) | (1,245) | (1,510)
Other adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 185 | 492 | 212
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,235) | 1,235
Net cash used in financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,235) | 1,235
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,235) | 1,235
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,235 |  | 1,235 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,235
WM Holdings [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,369 | 1,245 | 1,510
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,381) | (1,289) | (1,070)
Other adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 | 44 | (440)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,377 | 1,288 | 1,110
Other adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,583 | 1,210 | 1,221
Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,960 | 2,498 | 2,331
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (611) | (554) | (35)
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,339) | (1,233) | (1,151)
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses and other assets (net of cash divested) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43 | 145 | 2,253
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (25) | 34 | (72)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,932) | (1,608) | 995
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New borrowings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,057 | 2,337 | 2,817
Debt repayments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,682) | (2,764) | (3,568)
Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2) | (555) |
Common stock repurchase program |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (725) | (600) | (600)
Cash dividends |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (726) | (695) | (693)
Exercise of common stock options |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 63 | 77 | 93
Other, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (20) | 45 | (121)
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,235 | (1,235)
Net cash used in financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,035) | (920) | (3,307)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3) | (5)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (7) | (33) | 14
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  |  | $ 39 |  |  |  | $ 72 | 39 | 72 | 58
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ 32 |  |  |  | $ 39 |  |  |  | $ 32 | $ 39 | $ 72

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