Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
RAGIEL STEVEN T
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
WASTE MANAGEMENT INC [WMI]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President, Recycle America
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1001 FANNIN1001 FANNIN, SUITE 4000SUITE 4000
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/03/2005
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77002
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock (1) 01/03/2005   M   5,500 A $ 20.5 24,094.2054 D  
Common Stock (1) 01/03/2005   M   2,500 A $ 24.01 26,594.2054 D  
Common Stock (1) 01/03/2005   S   5,800 D $ 29.77 20,794.2054 D  
Common Stock (1) 01/03/2005   S   195 D $ 29.81 20,599.2054 D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) (2) $ 20.5 01/03/2005   M     5,500 09/13/2000 09/13/2009 Common Stock 5,500 $ 20.5 0 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) (3) $ 24.01 01/03/2005   M     2,500 03/01/2002 03/01/2011 Common Stock 2,500 $ 24.01 22,500 D  
Phantom Stock Units (4) $ 0 12/30/2004   A   4.3316   08/08/1988 08/08/1988 Common Stock 4.3316 $ 0 506.8934 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
RAGIEL STEVEN T
1001 FANNIN1001 FANNIN
SUITE 4000SUITE 4000
HOUSTON, TX 77002
      President, Recycle America  

Signatures

 Steven T. Ragiel   01/04/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Option exercised and shares sold pursuant to Mr. Ragiel's Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plan.
(2) Stock option granted pursuant to Waste Management, Inc. 1993 Stock Incentive Plan. Stock option vests in 20% annual increments, commencing on the first anniversary date of the date of grant.
(3) Stock option granted pursuant to Waste Management, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. Stock option vests in 25% annual increments, commencing on the first anniversary of the date of grant.
(4) Phantom stock units accrued under the Waste Management, Inc. Retirement Savings Restoration Plan, a supplemental retirement savin gs plan. A phantom stock unit is equivalent to one share of Common Stock.

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