The YSU Recycling Program was formed in 2000 with collaboration between the Mahoning County Solid Waste District (Green Team) and Youngstown State University, with encouragement from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Youngstown State University is provided grant funding from the Green Team annually to support the Recycling Program and also to house the Mahoning Valley Materials Exchange, an Industrial Waste Reuse Database to promote sustainable waste management and recycling between Industries.
Since the YSU Recycling Program was started in 2000:
- 2002: YSU was the first to start a Dump and Run reuse collection at the Residence Halls when students move out.
- 2003-04: YSU received National Recognition by receiving 2 national awards from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- 2006: YSU became the first college or university in Ohio to compost food waste.
- 2007: YSU secured grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to expand the food waste composting program by establishing a compost curing area.
- 2008: YSU dining services went tray-free in a push to be more sustainable in the Dining Hall.
- 2011: YSU secured funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to expand the food waste composting program by purchasing a second in-vessel unit.
- 2012: YSU received grants for 72 event recycling containers from Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola to help expand YSU's event recycling capabilities.
- 2012 - 2019: YSU consistently places in the top 20 of the national RecycleMania competition.
- 2019: YSU was ranked by Great Value Colleges at number seven on its list of "America's 50 Top Colleges with the Best Recycling Programs."