ATLANTA (Reuters) - Trash hauler Allied Waste Industries (AW.N: Quote, Profile, Research) reported a higher first-quarter profit on Wednesday as it held down costs.

Net income for the first quarter rose to $72.6 million, or 17 cents a diluted share, from $39.9 million, or 8 cents a share, a year ago.

Including charges, earnings came to 17 cents a share.

(Reporting by Karen Jacobs, editing by Phil Berlowitz)