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Green city

Cleaner air, household waste and the city’s waterways. Nitrogen dioxide is one pollutant; improvement in it does not mean every environmental risk has disappeared.

At a glance

Figures refer to their stated period.

−30%

Change in monitored nitrogen dioxide

Council-reported reduction across its monitoring network. Does not describe all pollutants or every location.

Southampton City Council · 2019–2024

Checked 3 October 2026

29.2%

Household waste reused, recycled or composted

Includes food waste. Comparisons reflect different collection systems; not all waste collected for recycling is accepted.

Southampton Data Observatory / Defra · 2024/25

Checked 3 October 2026

567 kgper household

Residual household waste

Waste not sent for recycling, per household.

Southampton Data Observatory / Defra · 2024/25

Checked 3 October 2026

47.1

Reported fly-tipping incidents per 1,000 residents

Recording practices differ between councils; incident counts are not directly comparable measures of environmental quality.

Southampton Data Observatory / Defra · 2024/25

Checked 3 October 2026

Put the figures in context

Household recycling2024/25
Southampton29.2%
England42.0%

Source: Southampton Data Observatory / Defra · 2024/25

Checked 3 October 2026

Includes food waste. Comparisons reflect different collection systems; not all waste collected for recycling is accepted.

MeasureValuePeriod
Household waste reused, recycled or composted29.2%2024/25
England household recycling rate42.0%2024/25

The evidence

Compare definitions as well as values.

Visit UK Facts for further details

More verified figures

4.14%

Share of properties in mapped river/sea flood-risk areas

% · June 2026

Includes every mapped likelihood band, including very low. Denominator is all NRD 2023 properties in the local authority, including non-residential properties. Modelled risk with defences; not a prediction that this percentage will flood.

Environment Agency

Definition and evidence →

36

Counted storm-overflow spills — Portswood Sso

spills · 2025 · Portswood Sso

Named outfall (SWS00674), discharging to RIVER ITCHEN ESTUARY; not a city or harbour total. Spill count uses EA 12/24-hour method. Duration is monitored discharge time, not sewage volume or a real-time bathing safety result. Monitor operational for 99.91% of reporting period.

Environment Agency

Definition and evidence →

380.21 hours

Storm-overflow discharge duration — Portswood Sso

hours · 2025 · Portswood Sso

Named outfall (SWS00674), discharging to RIVER ITCHEN ESTUARY; not a city or harbour total. Spill count uses EA 12/24-hour method. Duration is monitored discharge time, not sewage volume or a real-time bathing safety result. Monitor operational for 99.91% of reporting period.

Environment Agency

Definition and evidence →

99.91%

Storm-overflow monitor operability — Portswood Sso

% · 2025 · Portswood Sso

Named outfall (SWS00674), discharging to RIVER ITCHEN ESTUARY; not a city or harbour total. Spill count uses EA 12/24-hour method. Duration is monitored discharge time, not sewage volume or a real-time bathing safety result. Monitor operational for 99.91% of reporting period.

Environment Agency

Definition and evidence →

18

Counted storm-overflow spills — Woolston Sso

spills · 2025 · Woolston Sso

Named outfall (SWS00969), discharging to RIVER ITCHEN ESTUARY; not a city or harbour total. Spill count uses EA 12/24-hour method. Duration is monitored discharge time, not sewage volume or a real-time bathing safety result. Monitor operational for 99.14% of reporting period.

Environment Agency

Definition and evidence →

78.07 hours

Storm-overflow discharge duration — Woolston Sso

hours · 2025 · Woolston Sso

Named outfall (SWS00969), discharging to RIVER ITCHEN ESTUARY; not a city or harbour total. Spill count uses EA 12/24-hour method. Duration is monitored discharge time, not sewage volume or a real-time bathing safety result. Monitor operational for 99.14% of reporting period.

Environment Agency

Definition and evidence →

Explore all additional figures and comparisons →