It’s safe to say we are very proud of our campuses and green spaces at UWE. As a university, we are really trying to do our bit for the environment and create areas for wildlife, as well as spaces in which our student community can live, work and play in.
We have the aim of recycling 80% of the waste we produce, and we need your help to hit these targets and keep campuses looking fresh and clean. For us, for you, as well as for our neighbours and for the local critters.
What we need from you
When you joined us at UWE, you agreed to be responsible for the regular removal of waste and recycling from bedrooms and common areas. We don’t want rubbish to build up for you, not only is it unhygienic but it encourages pests and really impacts your enjoyment of your accommodation. We also don’t want poorly-managed waste to be blown across campus, not only does it ruin all of the Ground’s Team hard work, it also impacts the local environment and local communities. We have a great relationship with our neighbours and our mess in their gardens and community bins is really annoying for them.
How to recycle at UWE
- For the central large industrial bins, please recycle your:
- Paper, including magazines and newspapers
- Cardboard
- Cans for food or drink, foil and metal lids
- Plastic bottles and other plastic containers
- Glass bottles and jars (not broken glass)
- Food waste
- You can also recycle old batteries at the Frenchay Customer Service Desks.
This recycled waste is then collected from the bins several times a week.
Try not to just chuck rubbish in any old bin! If they are not sorted properly then the entire bin has to go to landfill, which we’d hate to see.
For anything that can’t be recycled (aka general waste) these go in the general bins outside your accommodation. It’s collected on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Remember, please don’t use public or community bins. As we mentioned, we love our next-door neighbours. Filling up their bins or causing a mess is a real nuisance for the local residential areas.
If you want to recycle any other unwanted items that are still in good condition, we have a Sustainability Hub on Frenchay campus that take a range of items including clothing, books, household items and small electrical items. For every item you donate, you get tokens to spend in the hub. Since opening in 2023, over 4,300 items have been swapped – equating to eight tonnes of planet-heating greenhouse gases saved.
As well as this, there are loads of other ways to recycle and consume more sustainability on campus:
- Placement uniform swap shops at Glenside campus each week
- Swap shop events on all campuses run by the Students’ Union
- Tech phone and laptop recycling service (OMS Tech secure drop of point in the Sustainability Hub)
- Clothes and electrical mending workshops and crafting sessions
- Vintage clothing shop ‘Pecks Apparel’ to be found on the patio outside OneZone, Frenchay
- Monthly repair café at the School of Engineering
Are you struggling to recycle?
If you have any problems with your recycling; it’s building up, or you don’t know what to do with it, please report it to the Customer Service Desk or email accommodation@uwe.ac.uk, they will be able to help you out.
Living off campus?
If you live in student accommodation away from campus, your local authority will be the best source of information on how to recycle. When you first move into your accommodation, it’s a good idea to find out when your bin day is and what goes in each bin. You can ask the council to replace lost or broken bins and use their website to find out what you can recycle.
For a guide of what rubbish goes in what bin, visit this link for Bristol City Council and visit this link for South Gloucestershire Council.
Bristol Waste also has this really helpful page just for students.
As a city, Bristol has been number one for recycling rates since 2014. Now you’re one of us, help us hit our targets and keep our city clean.
For more information on sustainability and how to do your bit at UWE, follow this link.