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  <xsd:import namespace="http://fasb.org/us-roles/2021-01-31" schemaLocation="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-roles-2021-01-31.xsd" />
  <xsd:import namespace="http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/net" schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/lrr/role/net-2009-12-16.xsd" />
  <xsd:import namespace="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31" schemaLocation="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2021/elts/us-gaap-2021-01-31.xsd" />
  <xsd:import namespace="http://fasb.org/srt/2021-01-31" schemaLocation="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2021/elts/srt-2021-01-31.xsd" />
  <xsd:import namespace="http://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2021" schemaLocation="https://xbrl.sec.gov/currency/2021/currency-2021.xsd" />
  <xsd:element name="AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember" id="wm_AcceleratedShareRepurchaseAgreementMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="AssetRetirementObligationAndEnvironmentalRemediationDisclosureTextBlock" id="wm_AssetRetirementObligationAndEnvironmentalRemediationDisclosureTextBlock" type="dtr-types:textBlockItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="AssetRetirementObligationAndEnvironmentalRemediationRollforwardAnalysisTableTextBlock" id="wm_AssetRetirementObligationAndEnvironmentalRemediationRollforwardAnalysisTableTextBlock" type="dtr-types:textBlockItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="AssetRetirementObligationIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsDivestituresAndOtherAdjustments" id="wm_AssetRetirementObligationIncreaseDecreaseForAcquisitionsDivestituresAndOtherAdjustments" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="CommercialPaperProgramMember" id="wm_CommercialPaperProgramMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems" id="wm_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="CommitmentsAndContingenciesTable" id="wm_CommitmentsAndContingenciesTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="DisclosureRequiredUnderItemOneZeroThreeOfSecsRegulationSk" id="wm_DisclosureRequiredUnderItemOneZeroThreeOfSecsRegulationSk" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element name="EnvironmentalCostsMember" id="wm_EnvironmentalCostsMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="EnvironmentalRemediationReasonablyPossibleAdditionalLossesHighEstimate" id="wm_EnvironmentalRemediationReasonablyPossibleAdditionalLossesHighEstimate" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element name="IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitIncludingFederalTaxCreditsFromEquityMethodInvestment" id="wm_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitIncludingFederalTaxCreditsFromEquityMethodInvestment" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndOtherOperatingLiabilities" id="wm_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndOtherOperatingLiabilities" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="InterestAndOtherIncomeExpense" id="wm_InterestAndOtherIncomeExpense" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="MaximumNumberOfLifeExpectedForIrsAuditsToBeCompleted" id="wm_MaximumNumberOfLifeExpectedForIrsAuditsToBeCompleted" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="NumberOfNonOwnedSitesListedOnEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyNationalPrioritiesListForWhichWeHaveBeenNotifiedWeArePrp" id="wm_NumberOfNonOwnedSitesListedOnEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyNationalPrioritiesListForWhichWeHaveBeenNotifiedWeArePrp" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element name="NumberOfOwnedSitesListedOnEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyNationalPrioritiesListForWhichWeHaveBeenNotifiedWeArePrp" id="wm_NumberOfOwnedSitesListedOnEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyNationalPrioritiesListForWhichWeHaveBeenNotifiedWeArePrp" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_NumberOfSitesListedOnEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyNationalPrioritiesListForWhichWeHaveBeenNotifiedWeArePrp" name="NumberOfSitesListedOnEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyNationalPrioritiesListForWhichWeHaveBeenNotifiedWeArePrp" nillable="true" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element name="OperatingGroupMember" id="wm_OperatingGroupMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="PotentiallyIssuableShares" id="wm_PotentiallyIssuableShares" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivestedAndProceedsFromSalesOfAssetsInvestingActivities" id="wm_ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinessesNetOfCashDivestedAndProceedsFromSalesOfAssetsInvestingActivities" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="false" nillable="true" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="SanJacintoWastePitsMember" id="wm_SanJacintoWastePitsMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="SolidWasteMember" id="wm_SolidWasteMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_CreditFacilityRevolvingMember" name="CreditFacilityRevolvingMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_SeniorNotesAggregateMember" name="SeniorNotesAggregateMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="TaxExemptBondsMember" id="wm_TaxExemptBondsMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_IncreaseDecreaseToOperatingExpensesDueToChangeInDiscountRateUsedToEstimatePresentValueOfEnvironmentalRemediationObligations" name="IncreaseDecreaseToOperatingExpensesDueToChangeInDiscountRateUsedToEstimatePresentValueOfEnvironmentalRemediationObligations" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element name="IncomeTaxesTable" id="wm_IncomeTaxesTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_IncomeTaxesLineItems" name="IncomeTaxesLineItems" nillable="true" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="CommercialMember" id="wm_CommercialMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="ResidentialMember" id="wm_ResidentialMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="IndustrialMember" id="wm_IndustrialMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="OtherCollectionMember" id="wm_OtherCollectionMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="CollectionMember" id="wm_CollectionMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="TransferMember" id="wm_TransferMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="RecyclingMember" id="wm_RecyclingMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="OtherLinesOfBusinessMember" id="wm_OtherLinesOfBusinessMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="InvestmentInLowIncomeHousingPropertiesMember" id="wm_InvestmentInLowIncomeHousingPropertiesMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="TrustForFinalCappingClosurePostClosureOrEnvironmentalRemediationObligationsMember" id="wm_TrustForFinalCappingClosurePostClosureOrEnvironmentalRemediationObligationsMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_DebtMaturingOrSubjectToRefinancingWithinNextTwelveMonthsClassifiedAsLongTerm" name="DebtMaturingOrSubjectToRefinancingWithinNextTwelveMonthsClassifiedAsLongTerm" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_DebtInstrumentInterestRatePeriodExpiringCurrent" name="DebtInstrumentInterestRatePeriodExpiringCurrent" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_AccruedCappingAndEnvironmentalCosts" name="AccruedCappingAndEnvironmentalCosts" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_DeferredSalesIncentivesMember" name="DeferredSalesIncentivesMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_StockActivityUnder10b51PlanMember" name="StockActivityUnder10b51PlanMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_DeferredRevenueRecognitionPeriod" name="DeferredRevenueRecognitionPeriod" nillable="true" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionCapacityIncrease" name="LineOfCreditFacilityAccordionCapacityIncrease" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_GainLossFromDivestituresAssetImpairmentsAndUnusualItems" name="GainLossFromDivestituresAssetImpairmentsAndUnusualItems" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_GainLossFromDivestituresAssetImpairmentsAndOtherNoncashPortion" name="GainLossFromDivestituresAssetImpairmentsAndOtherNoncashPortion" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_FinancingLeasesAndOtherMember" name="FinancingLeasesAndOtherMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_WeightedAverageNetNumberOfSharesReducedBasic" name="WeightedAverageNetNumberOfSharesReducedBasic" nillable="true" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_DebtAndFinancingLeasesMaturingOrSubjectToRemarketingWithinNextTwelveMonths" name="DebtAndFinancingLeasesMaturingOrSubjectToRemarketingWithinNextTwelveMonths" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_CanadianSeniorNotesMember" name="CanadianSeniorNotesMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_InvestmentMaturityTerm" name="InvestmentMaturityTerm" nillable="true" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_OtherLetterOfCreditFacilitiesMember" name="OtherLetterOfCreditFacilitiesMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_CreditFacilityRevolvingCanadianMember" name="CreditFacilityRevolvingCanadianMember" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_MultiemployerPlansCollectiveBargainingArrangementPercentageOfParticipant" name="MultiemployerPlansCollectiveBargainingArrangementPercentageOfParticipant" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsAndOtherCreditLosses" name="ProvisionForDoubtfulAccountsAndOtherCreditLosses" nillable="true" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_SeniorNotes2.9PercentDue2022Member" name="SeniorNotes2.9PercentDue2022Member" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="wm_SeniorNotes2.4PercentDue2023Member" name="SeniorNotes2.4PercentDue2023Member" nillable="true" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" abstract="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element name="OperatingSegment.EastTierMember" id="wm_OperatingSegment.EastTierMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element name="OperatingSegment.WestTierMember" id="wm_OperatingSegment.WestTierMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element name="TermLoanMember" id="wm_TermLoanMember" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element name="SeniorNotes4.15PercentDue2032Member" id="wm_SeniorNotes4.15PercentDue2032Member" type="dtr-types:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" nillable="true" xbrli:periodType="duration" abstract="true" />
</xsd:schema>
