26 September 2026 | Student blog

Your waste, your responsibility: how to recycle properly whilst at uni

Student Communications | 30 October 2025

Did you know that you could be at risk of getting disciplinaries, fines and losing your deposits for not managing your waste properly? Recycling isn’t just about being eco-friendly, it’s about taking responsibility for your local environment, building good relationships with your neighbours and keeping Bristol clean.
Here’s what you need to know to manage your waste correctly if you live off-campus:

How to manage your waste and recycling as a student

First of all, the council will provide you with bins and boxes to recycle your waste. If you are missing some, you can order more for free online here.

You should have:

Recycling boxes – this is for glass, paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and tubs, tins, cans and empty aerosols. This box is collected weekly.
Small indoor food waste caddy – this is kept inside and used for collecting food waste before emptying it into the larger outdoor food bin. You can use a normal plastic bag to keep this bin clean.
Larger outdoor food waste bin – Once your indoor food caddy is full, you can put the contents in this bin. This is collected weekly.
Black bin – this is for non-recyclable waste. This is collected every two weeks.

Putting your bins out

An important part of moving into new accommodation is checking when your bin collection days are. You can find your collection day online here.

You can also download the South Gloucestershire Council app to check your collection days and set reminders.

Make sure the items you recycle are clean and separated properly.
Flatten cardboard boxes to save space and help the bin crews collect quickly.
Crush cans and plastic bottles to make more space in your recycling containers.
Make sure waste stays inside your black bin. You should be able to close the lid, if you can’t, pests could get in, or rubbish could blow away into gardens.
You can put your food waste in plastic bags in the food waste bin to keep it clean and prevent smells.
Put your bins and boxes out for collection by 7am on your collection day.
Put your bins and boxes at the edge of the property or in your designated collection point – ask your landlord if you aren’t sure where this is.
Stack your recycling boxes and put the heaviest one (for example the glass container) on top. This weighs down the lighter boxes and stops litter from blowing away.
Bring your bins back in once they have been emptied. Don’t leave them out, they might get lost or blown away!
Don’t let waste to build up around where you live. We have had reports of pests and it’s unpleasant for our neighbours, who we have great relationships with.

Too much rubbish?

You can order as many recycling containers as you need from the council website.
If you need a bigger black bin, you can request one from the council.
Take any extra waste to a Sort It recycling centre. You can book to visit for free and come by car, bike or foot.
If you cannot take the item to a recycling centre, you can book a large household item collection through the council.

Moving out

When you move out, do not leave anything at your property. Leaving unwanted items in your accommodation could lead to the loss of your deposit. Take any unwanted but reusable items to UWE Bristol’s Sustainability Hub or a charity shop. You can also take unwanted items to a Sort It recycling centre, but you must book a time to do this. Find out more about recycling and waste at on the South Glos website.

Living in UWE Accommodation?

Find out how to recycle in UWE Accommodation with our blog.

Remember, your waste is your responsibility. Make sure you manage it properly.

Green Week 2025: learn, act and make a difference

Student Communications | 30 October 2025

Green Week returns to UWE Bristol from 3–9 November 2025, celebrating sustainability, community, and climate action. The week brings together students, staff, and local partners for a packed programme of events, from hands-on workshops to inspiring talks and film screenings – all designed to spark ideas and help you make a positive difference.

Whether you’re already involved in sustainability projects or just curious about how to live a little greener, there’s something for everyone. It’s a chance to learn new skills, connect with others, and take small but meaningful actions for a more sustainable future.

Green Week Highlights

Here are some of the standout events happening throughout the week:

Launch of the Inter-Hall Student Recycling Competition

Join the launch of UWE’s recycling challenge and help your hall become the greenest on campus. With support from SUEZ, you’ll pick up practical recycling tips and find out how to boost your hall’s score in this friendly, eco-minded competition.

Green Week: Employers Drop-In Thinking about a sustainability-focused career?

Chat with organisations like Triodos Bank, the Bristol Energy Network, and Renishaw’s sustainability team. This informal drop-in is a great way to explore green career paths and discover where your degree could take you.

All That Breathes – Film Screening and Discussion

Watch All That Breathes, the Oscar-nominated documentary following two brothers in New Delhi who care for injured black kites. The post-film discussion explores how humans and nature coexist in our changing urban world.

Free Bike Maintenance Workshops

Keep your bike in top condition with free sessions led by Bike Bristol. Learn how to fix punctures, adjust brakes and gears, and keep your bike safe for everyday travel. Spaces are limited, so book early.

Litter Pick and Community Garden Meet-Up

Get outdoors, meet local residents, and help tidy the green spaces around campus, with our community meet up. Afterwards, stick around for a chat about how we can develop shared green spaces together.

Introduction to the Free Climate Education Course and Film Competition

Explore UWE’s free online Climate Education course, and find out how to enter the Lights, Camera & Climate Action! film competition. You’ll earn a certificate and gain practical tools to communicate climate change creatively.

Life After Single Use: Let’s Talk About Packaging

Join an engaging panel on how we can move beyond single-use packaging. Hear from designers, researchers, and campaigners as they discuss real-world solutions and behaviour changes for a reusable future.

Soil Ecoacoustics: What Does Soil Sound Like?

Discover the fascinating world beneath your feet with Dr Sam Bonnett, exploring how listening to soil can reveal information about biodiversity, carbon storage, and environmental health.

Nature Rising: From the Ground Up

An online discussion led by researcher Lynn Ooi and co-lead Gnisha Bevan on building inclusive and resilient environmental movements from the grassroots up.

Find the full list of Green Week events on the UWE Green week webpage .

Why Green Week Matters

Green Week is more than just a celebration – it’s part of UWE Bristol’s ongoing commitment to tackling the climate crisis, supporting biodiversity, and encouraging sustainable living across campus.

Events like the recycling competition and litter pick turn environmental awareness into action, while sessions such as Life After Single Use and Nature Rising open up conversations about the bigger picture – from policy and design to community empowerment.

Your harm reduction guide to Ketamine

Student Communications | 30 October 202520 April 2026

by Becky Risley

We want to make sure you’re safe, whatever substance you choose to use. That’s why we’ve created a series of guidance telling you how you to look after yourself, before, during and after using a substance.

So let’s get started…

Ketamine. From a chemical point of view, Ketamine is an anaesthetic, which can make people feel dissociated from mind and body. You might hear it called K, Special K, Super K, Vitamin K and sometimes Wonk or Wobble.

It’s getting a lot of attention in the media at the moment because of the long term effects it can have on your urinary system such as severe abdominal pains, bladder and kidney damage, ulcerative cystitis and incontinence.

Making you aware of the harm Ketamine can cause is important so you can make informed decisions.

So, if you do decide to use Ketamine, how can you reduce the harm?

Before

Checked your Ket?

Sometimes Ket is mixed with other substances making it more dangerous such as Nitazenes.
Reagent kits or WEDINOS can tell you what you’re using.
Speak to your specialist drug and alcohol practitioner for more info on drug checking.

Crush your Ket

Lumps or chunks of Ket are not absorbed through the mucus membrane in the nose.
This can cause irritation and infections.
Crushing it into a fine powder before snorting can help reduce the damage to the nostrils.
Avoid sharing any snorting equipment to prevent the spread of germs and bloodborne viruses.

How much is too much?

Start low and go slow.
A smaller dose = euphoria, sense of calm, disorientation and confusion.
Large doses = risk of “k-hole” (an intense out-of-body or near-death like experience with very realistic visuals), temporary paralysis, greater risk of overdose.
Everyone’s tolerance is different and what might be ok for friends might be too much for you.
If you’re using regularly your tolerance will increase quickly.

During

Ket and alcohol

Ket magnifies the effects of alcohol increasing the risk of falling unconscious.
It reduces the gag reflex which would wake us up if we needed to be sick.
If a friend is going to bed after using Ket and alcohol, put them in the recovery position.

Ket and other drugs

Taking with depressants (GHB/GBL, benzodiazepines such as Valium, or opiates such as heroin) can cause unconsciousness and stop your breathing.
Taking Ket with stimulants (such as cocaine and ecstasy) may overload your heart and increase agitation and anxiety as well as accidents and injury.
Check out Drugsand.me to learn more about the risks of drug combinations.

How can I help a friend who is freaking out?

If somebody is having a bad trip when using Ket take them somewhere quiet where they feel safe.
Try to calm and reassure them (it will pass, the drugs will wear off).
This can take hours, so be patient.
If their breathing becomes very fast, help them control it by breathing through the nose, counting 4 on the in and 6 on the outbreath.

After

Wash your nose out

Wash your nose out with warm water to protect the nostrils from any further damage.

Hydrate and eat well

Drink plenty of water and load up on nutritious food like fruit and vegetables.

Rest

Using any illicit substance disrupts our usual sleep cycle.
Poor quality of sleep can impact on our immune system, mood and resilience to cope with problems or issues.

Speak to someone

If you are feeling anxious or worried in the days after using speak to your friends or someone you feel comfortable discussing it with.

Take a break

Regular Ket use can cause damage to the bladder and urinary tract.
It can also affect memory and mental sharpness because of the dissociative effects of Ket.
It can therefore negatively affect work, education, and relationships.

If you have more questions, need support or want to make a change to your Ketamine use, just get in touch. You can find out more about me and the UWE drug and alcohol service on our drugs and alcohol webpage.

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Vaccinations: what’s your status?

Student Communications | 21 October 202521 October 2025

Do you know what you’re vaccinated against?

Ideally you should be fully vaccinated before starting university but it’s not too late to get vaxxed. You can get all the vaccinations below at a GP in Bristol or at the University Health Centre.

You can easily check your vaccination status by checking your health record:
Patient Access.

These are the key viruses you can easily be vaccinated against:

Meningitis

Meningitis, sepsis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) are very serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses that can lead to life-changing disabilities, such as amputations, hearing loss and brain damage. Find out more

2. MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)

The MMR vaccine gives long-term protection against measles, mumps and rubella. These 3 infections spread easily between people and can lead to serious problems including: meningitis; blindness; hearing loss. Find out more

3. Human papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is the name of a very common group of viruses. HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact and can increase the risk of genital warts and some types of cancer. A single dose of HPV vaccine is now recommended – it’s available to all those aged under 25 and takes less than five minutes!

4. Influenza (‘flu’) and COVID-19

If you think you might be in a high clinical risk group, contact your GP to see if you need to have a flu vaccine or a first COVID-19 vaccine or booster.

Tuberculosis tests

If you are from any of these countries and you will be in the UK for more than six months, you must take a tuberculosis (TB) test.

Read the UK Visa and Immigration guidance on tuberculosis tests.

You may also be interested in

Why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself – NHS

National Flu Immunisation Programme

How’s your sleep hygiene?

Student Communications | 21 October 202521 October 2025

No, we don’t mean how many times a month you change your bedding (but you should do this regularly) we’re talking about your sleeping habits.

As outlined by Mind, “there’s a close relationship between sleep and mental health” and “that both living with a mental health problem can affect how well you sleep and poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health.”

Studies have shown that problems sleeping, whether that be struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep or interrupted sleep, can increase feelings of worry, loneliness and irritability. It can also lead to lack of concentration, trouble making decisions and impact symptoms of pre-existing mental health problems like depression and anxiety.

So, it’s an important thing to look at and take seriously when trying to stay happy and healthy, especially at university. We’re not saying you need to totally cancel those late nights studying or socialising, but it’s good to be aware of what can impact your sleep and how to get into a good routine.

We’ve pulled together some top tips from Mind so if you want to know more, keep reading!

Establish a routine

Many people find going to bed and/or waking up at the same time each day helps them establish a good pattern of sleep.

Think about what you do before you go to bed

Stress and worry are one of the biggest reasons our sleep might be disturbed. Whether it’s caused by relationships, money or an impending uni deadline, we often find these worries feel bigger and louder when trying to sleep.

Breathing exercises and meditation are great ways to reduce stress, relax before bed and ready your body for sleep.

It’s also worth thinking about what you’ve consumed before you go to bed, as things like sugar, caffeine, alcohol and drugs can seriously affect your slumber. Moving your body in some way throughout the day can also help you fall asleep at night.

Think about your environment

There might be only so much you can change in your student bedroom but temperature, light and noise levels can all affect our sleep. Think ear plugs and eye masks, or maybe a low light and podcast to help you drift off.

If temperature is your problem, investigate what duvet you’re using as it could be making you too hot or cold!

Turn off those screens

There are mountains of research which shows that using screens in the evening can negatively affect your sleep.

The best way round this is to avoid using your phone before going to sleep full stop. But if you can’t try to reduce the brightness and don’t play stimulating games just before you go to bed.

Putting your phone on silent or airplane mode whilst you sleep will also reduce the likelihood of you being disturbed during the night.

What to do if you really can’t sleep?

If you’re struggling to sleep it can feel frustrating, stressful and at some times lonely – we’ve all had that moment at 3am where it feels like we’re the only person awake in the whole world, right?

But try not to force sleep. If you can do something to relax in bed like reading, listening to something soothing, or meditation, give that a go. Sometimes getting out of bed to do something calming until you feel tired can also help.

If you want more tips on how to improve your sleep take a look at this guide from Mind and if you need support with your mental health and wellbeing don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Healthy relationships at university

Student Communications | 14 October 202514 October 2025

For many students, university life offers a lot of new experiences, including new relationships.

You will meet new romantic partners, new course mates, flatmates or new friends — as well as experiencing extended time away from old friends, partners or family members. You might also be living abroad for the first time or discovering your identity or sexuality.

Relationships can be complicated. Understanding the foundations of a healthy relationship will help you establish positive connections and ensure you feel comfortable, safe and well supported.

Remember, relationships aren’t meant to make you feel bad. You have the right to be respected, be comfortable and be happy in any relationship.

Last year, for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women we spoke to you, our students, to find out what you thought were ‘green flags’ and ‘red flags’ in relationships – behaviour that was appreciated and supported, and behaviour that was unacceptable or abusive.

Your suggestions for ‘green flag’ behaviour in relationships included:

Good communication
Asks for consent
Caring
Emotionally intelligent
Empathetic
Respectful
Supportive
Trusting and trustworthy
Allows room for independence and self sufficiency
Willingness to learn and work through problems

And your examples of ‘red flag’ behaviours in relationships included:

Aggression or anger
Control
Gaslighting into desired behaviour
Disrespect
Jealousy
Possessiveness
Judgment
Deception
Manipulation
Narcissism
Obsessiveness
Sexism
Violence
Poor communication
Lack of empathy
Lack of consent

What to do if you think you’re in an unhealthy relationship

Well done for recognising this. This is often the hardest part! Here’s some steps to help if you think you’re in an unhealthy relationship:

If you’re ready to talk, speak to a friend, family member, member of staff or someone you trust about how you’ve been feeling.
If you feel like you’re in physical danger, call 999 if it is safe to do so. If you’re on campus, dial 9999 from a telephone connected to the University network to reach your campus control room.
Reach out to one of support services, wellbeing services or book an appointment with our Anti-Sexual Violence Service.
Contact a helpline or support services, some are listed under ‘External resources’ at the bottom of our Healthy Relationships page.
Use our report and support tool to flag something that makes you feel upset or uncomfortable.
Reach out to the Student’s Union Advice Centre if you need help finding new halls of residence or private accommodation, or email the UWE Bristol accommodation service.
Build a support network of people you trust and want the best for you.
Try and regain some independence from the relationship.
Prioritise your health and wellbeing.
Don’t let this experience impact other relationships. Think about what went wrong, what you would do differently and what you want new relationships to look like. Create new boundaries or set new expectations for the future in order to maintain your happiness.

How to support someone in an unhealthy relationship

Supporting someone you believe is in an unhealthy relationship should be approached carefully. You may be their only advocate, so try not to force them to do anything or shame them in any way. It is important to remind them that they deserve to feel happy and safe in their relationship and that any form of abuse is not acceptable.

Listen to them and their experiences and try and see the whole picture. Let them know you are there for them and they can trust you. Leaving toxic relationships, ending friendships or making the decision to end contact with family members are all huge, emotional decisions. The person may need time to adjust, come to terms with the situation and even see the scenario the way you do. Help them to seek professional help in the form of local charities, helplines or encourage them to contact UWE’s wellbeing and support services. You’re doing a great thing, well done.

Check out our healthy behaviours web page for more guidance and external resources, as well as our wellbeing services.

Your harm reduction guide to alcohol

Student Communications | 9 October 202520 April 2026

by Becky Risley

So let’s get started…

Alcohol. From a chemical point of view, alcohol is a broad class of organic compounds usually referred to as ethanol; a colourless, volatile liquid made by fermenting sugars from grains or fruits.

It’s the most widely used drug for altering consciousness and according to the Drugs and Alcohol Survey 2024, it’s still the most widely used substance by UWE students. Unlike other substances, it’s also the most normalised in our society and many of the negative side effects, such as blackouts or hangxiety are often shrugged off as part of the experience.

But these, as well as the other associated affects of alcohol can be harmful. So how can you reduce the harm?