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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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) 11/01/2004 (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) 11/01/2004   M   2,000 A $ 19.61 16,775.2463 D   Common Stock (1) 11/01/2004   M   1,000 A $ 14.8125 17,775.2463 D   Common Stock (1) 11/01/2004   S   2,000 D $ 28.5 15,775.2463 D   Common Stock (1) 11/01/2004   S   239 D $ 28.51 15,536.2463 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)

$ 14.8125

11/01/2004

M

1,000

02/28/2001(2)

02/28/2010

Common Stock

1,000

$ 14.8125

0

D

Stock Option (right to buy)

$ 19.61

11/01/2004

M

2,000

03/06/2004(3)

03/06/2013

Common Stock

2,000

$ 19.61

10,000

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		11/03/2004
**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 25% annual increments, commencing on the first anniversary 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.

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