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Commitments and Contingencies - Changes to Net Insurance Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Beginning Balance | $ 425 | $ 414 | $ 393
Self-insurance expense (benefit) | 101 | 130 | 126
Cash (paid) received | (109) | (119) | (105)
Ending Balance | 417 | 425 | 414
Current portion at December 31, 2016 | 113 |  |
Long-term portion at December 31, 2016 | 304 |  |
Gross Claims Liability [Member] |  |  |
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Beginning Balance | 643 | 597 | 590
Self-insurance expense (benefit) | 71 | 169 | 135
Cash (paid) received | (126) | (123) | (128)
Ending Balance | 588 | 643 | 597
Current portion at December 31, 2016 | 133 |  |
Long-term portion at December 31, 2016 | 455 |  |
Receivables Associated with Insured Claims [Member] |  |  |
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |  |
Beginning Balance | (218) | (183) | (197)
Self-insurance expense (benefit) | 30 | (39) | (9)
Cash (paid) received | 17 | 4 | 23
Ending Balance | (171) | $ (218) | $ (183)
Current portion at December 31, 2016 | (20) |  |
Long-term portion at December 31, 2016 | $ (151) |  |

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- Definition Cash (paid) received. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_ContingenciesAndCommitmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Net Insurance Claims Liability + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_NetInsuranceClaimsLiability
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Net insurance claims liability current. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_NetInsuranceClaimsLiabilityCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Net insurance claims liability long term. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_NetInsuranceClaimsLiabilityLongTerm
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Self insurance expense benefit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_SelfInsuranceExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_UninsuredRiskMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |