XML 38 R35.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3

Basis of Presentation - Revenue Recognition (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018
Contract Acquisition Costs |  |  |  |  |
Deferred contract costs | $ 150 |  | $ 150 |  | $ 145
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Contract Acquisition Costs |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue recognition period |  |  | 1 month |  |
Contract amortization period | 5 years |  | 5 years |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Contract Acquisition Costs |  |  |  |  |
Deferred revenue recognition period |  |  | 3 months |  |
Contract amortization period | 13 years |  | 13 years |  |
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Contract Acquisition Costs |  |  |  |  |
Deferred contract costs amortization | $ 6 | $ 6 | $ 17 | $ 17 |
Reduction to Sales [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Contract Acquisition Costs |  |  |  |  |
Deferred contract costs amortization | 4 | $ 8 | 15 | $ 27 |
Deferred Sales Incentives [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Contract Acquisition Costs |  |  |  |  |
Deferred contract costs | $ 115 |  | $ 115 |  | $ 109

X
- Definition Amount of amortization expense for asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amortization period of cost capitalized in obtaining or fulfilling contract with customer, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131251-203054 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostAmortizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment loss, of asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Deferred revenue recognition period, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wm_DeferredRevenueRecognitionPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | wm_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SalesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostAxis=wm_DeferredSalesIncentivesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |