YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown State University ranked #1 in Ohio in a nationwide recycling competition.

The competition, called the "Campus Race to Zero Waste," challenged students and staff to collect paper, publications, bottles, and cans from every building across campus during an 8 week competition period.

Overall, YSU collected 173,108 pounds of recyclables. That's nearly 87 tons!

YSU determined that the amount of recycling they collected is equal to the combined weights of an African elephant, two fighter jets, a large RV, a standard helicopter, three yellow school buses, four cars and 66 manhole covers.

In addition to a number 1 ranking in Ohio, the university ranked 11th nationally out of the over 400 college and universities that participated.

"We are very thankful to the students, staff and faculty that recycle daily," said Dan Kuzma, manager of YSU Materials Exchange and Recycling.

YSU has placed in the competition for 15 of the past 17 years. For the past 10 years, they've come out with the top spot in the state.