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Commitments and Contingencies (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |
Maximum self insurance exposures per incident under general liability insurance program | $ 5 |
Maximum self insurance exposures per incident under workers' compensation insurance program | 5 |
Per incident base deductible under auto liability insurance program | 10 |
Insurance claims receivable | 153 | $ 171
Beginning Balance | 588 | 643
Self-insurance expense (benefit) | 142 | 71
Cash (paid) received | (148) | (126)
Ending Balance | 582 | 588
Current portion | 107 | 133
Long-term portion | $ 475 | 455
Expected time period in years for cash settlement of recorded obligations associated with insurance liabilities | 6 years |
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items] |  |
Credit Facility, aggregate capacity | $ 2,250 | $ 2,250

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- Definition Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InsuranceSettlementsReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Cash (paid) received. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_CashPaidReceived
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 Expected time period in years for cash settlement of recorded obligations associated with insurance liabilities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_ExpectedTimePeriodInTermsForCashSettlementOfRecordedObligationsAssociatedWithInsuranceLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

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

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

X
- Definition Maximum self insurance exposures per incident under general liability insurance program. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_MaximumSelfInsuranceExposuresPerIncidentUnderGeneralLiabilityInsuranceProgram
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum self insurance exposures per incident under workers compensation insurance program. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_MaximumSelfInsuranceExposuresPerIncidentUnderWorkersCompensationInsuranceProgram
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Per incident base deductible under auto liability insurance program. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_PerIncidentBaseDeductibleUnderAutoLiabilityInsuranceProgram
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wm_CreditFacilityRevolvingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |