Industry groups hope that Lee Zeldin, the incoming Trump administration’s pick for EPA administrator, will work closely on key issues affecting waste, recycling and packaging.

President-elect Donald Trump announcement former Rep. Zeldin, a New York Republican, was chosen to lead the EPA on Monday. Zeldin served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023 and as the Republican candidate for governor of New York in 2022.

Waste and recycling groups remained neutral on the choice, while environmental groups criticized Zeldin’s previous vote on environmental issues. The League of Conservation Voters said it voted in favor of key environmental bills 14% of the time.

Among the bills he voted for, several were related to regulator PFAS. This included the passage in 2021 of a bill that would have placed certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances under legal control. National Drinking Water Standard. The EPA, under President Joe Biden, set the final drinking water standards earlier this year. for several types of PFAS. In a report published Thursday, the agency highlighted an “unprecedented” situation progress over the past three years on its PFAS strategy.

Zeldin is expected to support Trump’s environmental agenda, which is expected to include rolling back some of Biden’s climate and environmental rules. The new Trump administration also discussed possibly cancel unspent funds of the Inflation Reduction Law, which was adopted in recent years finance energy and climate initiatives linked to biogas projects, packaging manufacturing facilities, environmental justice initiatives and more. Trump also discussed cutting federal funding and initiatives aimed at advance the production of electric vehicles.

“We will restore American energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring jobs back to the United States and make the United States the world leader in AI,” Zeldin said in a declaration on X. “We will do it while protecting access to clean air and water. »

Industry groups say it’s important to update Zeldin on the most pressing issues they champion, including a range of trade, energy and technology priorities.

“As with every new administration, we are committed to working alongside EPA’s appointed and career staff to ensure that our industry’s issues and priorities are well understood and effectively represented,” said Michael E. Hoffman, President and CEO of National Waste & Recycling. Association, in a press release.

Amy Lestition Burke, executive director and CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America, highlighted the industry’s work on “responsible waste and resource management, occupational health and safety, workforce support- work and the research and testing of new technologies.

Lestition Burke further highlighted industry priorities such as transitioning to electric vehicles and natural gas vehicles for fleets. “It will be important that this work can continue,” she said in an email.

“Landfill gas-to-energy projects and waste-to-energy facilities provide fuel for communities and an important source of revenue for public and private sector owners. SWANA will therefore seek continued federal support for these projects,” she added, noting that several landfill gas projects have received IRA funding.

The American Chemistry Council said it is “ready to help the Administration and Congress support American innovation and supply chain resilience,” highlighting priorities such as maintaining the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector American and job creation.

“We support the implementation of sensible, pro-growth, science-based policies and regulations,” Kimberly Wise White, ACC vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs, said in a statement.

The American Forest & Paper Association noted that it has a “long history” of working with the EPA and that it “looking forward to continuing our partnership to achieve common goals.

Meanwhile, environmental groups criticized Zeldin’s expected nomination. They denounced the previous Trump administration’s rollback of many EPA policies, as well as Zeldin’s record of voting against the IRA and other environmental bills during his time in Congress.