XML 92 R71.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Income Taxes - Additional information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 01, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Income tax expense at U.S. federal statutory rate | 21.00% |  | 35.00% | 35.00% | 35.00%
Net reduction in income tax expense due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act |  |  | $ (529) |  |
Re-measurement of net deferred tax assets and liabilities due to tax legislation |  |  | (595) |  |
Mandatory transition tax due to tax legislation |  |  | $ 66 |  |
Mandatory transition tax payment period |  |  | 8 years |  |
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities |  |  | $ 68 | $ 44 | $ 38
Interest expense |  |  | 363 | 376 | 385
Other federal tax credits |  |  | 13 | 14 | 15
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation |  | $ 32 | 37 |  |
Reduction in provision for income taxes due to tax audit settlements |  |  | 2 | 11 | 10
Reduction in provision for income taxes due to state net operating losses and credits |  |  | 12 | 10 | 17
Increase (decrease) to accruals and related deferred taxes |  |  | (5) | (10) | (18)
Increase (decrease) in provision for income taxes due to impairments |  |  | (15) | (15) | (2)
Investments Qualifying for Federal Tax Credits [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities |  |  | 30 | 31 | 30
Income tax benefit, including tax credits, from equity method investment |  |  | $ 51 | $ 55 | $ 57
2014 Through 2017 [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |
Expected time of completion of IRS audits |  |  | 27 months |  |

X
- Definition Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total recognized tax benefit related to compensation cost for equity-based payment arrangements recognized in income during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(12)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(10)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66022249&loc=d3e33749-111570 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(13)(f)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to nondeductible impairment loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to other tax credits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsOther
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the period in the amount due for taxes based on the reporting entity's earnings or attributable to the entity's income earning process (business presence) within a given jurisdiction. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net amount of nonoperating interest income (expense). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) to previously recorded tax expense. Includes, but is not limited to, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including tax assessment reversal, and IRS tax settlement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96869850&loc=d3e28446-109314 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96869850&loc=d3e28511-109314 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Income tax benefit, including federal tax credits, from equity method investment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_IncomeTaxBenefitIncludingFederalTaxCreditsFromEquityMethodInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Income Taxes [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_IncomeTaxesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum number of months expected for IRS audits to be completed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_MaximumNumberOfLifeExpectedForIrsAuditsToBeCompleted
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Reduction in provision for income taxes due to state net operating loss and credit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_ReductionInProvisionForIncomeTaxesDueToStateNetOperatingLossAndCredit
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of reasonable estimate for income tax expense (benefit) for remeasurement of deferred tax from change in tax rate pursuant to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for which accounting for tax effect is incomplete. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingChangeInTaxRateProvisionalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of reasonable estimate for income tax expense (benefit) from effect of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for which accounting for tax effect is incomplete. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingProvisionalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of reasonable estimate for income tax expense from transition tax on accumulated earnings of controlled foreign corporation deemed repatriated pursuant to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for which accounting for tax effect is incomplete. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalIncomeTaxExpense
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Period of time over which TCJA transition tax on certain unrepatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries may be paid. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxPeriodForPayment
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wm_InvestmentsQualifyingForFederalTaxCreditsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=wm_TaxYear2014Through2017Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |