The University is involved in a variety of projects to improve the local environment, especially in the areas near to the University where the density of student houses is highest. Leeds is a city with large areas of urban green spaces and the University has helped a local group, Meanwood Valley Partnership, to develop interpretative panels. These panels highlight wildlife and vegetation along the Meanwood Valley trail for the use of walkers and local schoolchildren. The University has also helped develop a website showing aspects of Meanwood Valley.
Students generally move house annually so find many items to throw away at moving time.
The University has installed drop-in points, both at the University and local community centres, for redistributing items such as tinned food, books and clothes. Skips are also placed at various points near student residences for the disposal of large items to avoid fly-tipping. Many courses at the University operate in areas of benefit to local environmental projects. The University has both undergraduate and postgraduate work taking place to aid local groups, such as the use of computing modules for the production of websites, databases and other software for the use of the community and voluntary sector.