NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Dec. 20, 2013--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today raised its ratings on 22 joint-supported bond issues related to Waste Management Inc. and removed them from CreditWatch with positive implications, where they were placed on Dec. 9, 2013. At the same time, we affirmed the ratings on five joint-supported bond issues related to Waste Management Inc. (see ratings list). Today's rating actions reflect the Dec. 12, 2013, upgrade of the issuer credit rating on Waste Management Inc., the guarantor/obligor, to 'A-/A-2' from 'BBB/A-2', and removal from CreditWatch with positive implications, where it was placed on Nov. 26, 2013. The long- and short-term components of our ratings on the bonds are based on the joint support provided