April 28 (Reuters) - Waste Management reported

first-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates on Monday,

while posting higher expenses in the quarter related to the

integration of its new medical waste destruction businesses.

Shares of the company edged down more than 1% in

after-market trading.

The Houston, Texas-based company reported total revenue of

$6.01 billion, for the quarter ended March 31. Analysts on

average had expected $6.12 billion, according to data compiled

by LSEG.

However, the company posted a quarterly adjusted profit of

$1.67 per share, above analysts' average expectations of $1.62

per share.

WM, which collects and transfers trash to company landfills

and recycles it into clean, renewable energy, has been

benefiting from the use of automation, which has cut labor costs

and boosted efficiency.

The company said its selling, general and administrative

expenses in the quarter grew to $687 million, from $491 million

last year. This was due to the integration of its new medical

waste destruction businesses, referred to as WM Healthcare

Solutions, in its first full quarter as part of Waste

Management.

Last week, peer Republic Services ( RSG ) also missed

first-quarter revenue estimates, as lower volumes and bad

weather more than offset the impact of higher pricing and the

company's cost-cutting initiatives.

Alongside municipal waste departments, WM and Republic

Services ( RSG ) are two major companies that lead garbage collection

across significant regions of the United States.

Waste Management CEO Jim Fish said the company was on pace

to achieve its 2025 outlook.