Home » News » Corby Recycling Centre’s prickly visitor which operates 4 recycling centres across North Northamptonshire on behalf of North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) had a prickly visitor on site at Corby over the weekend Tania called Hals’ Urban Hedgehogs who now have Stig in their care FCC Site operative Tania said “it was a bit of a surprise to find a hedgehog in the rubbish but we are used to finding all sorts of weird and wonderful things so we always keep an eye out But it was great to have spotted Stig in good time and to have been able to get him somewhere safe where he can be looked after.” FCC Operations Manager in North Northants said “I have a great team across all of the four sites they work hard and do a great job ensuring as much of our household waste as possible is recycled so the team are always on the look out for items that should not be there Stig will go down in the books as one of the most heart warming visitors to site and we are delighted he is in the best place for him now The FCC Environment Press Office can be contacted on 01302 553454 or info@fccenvironment.co.uk marked for the attention of Press Office Or in writing at:FCC Environment Press Office3 Sidings CourtWhite Rose WayDoncasterDN4 5NU Registered in England and Wales No. 2674166 VAT reg: No. 637 8808 92 Protect your sensors and equipment with the ultimate care FREDsense appoints proven water industry executive as new President resp.. a new drama takes a look back at the pollution that warped the lives of so many residents of Corby What can it tell us about monitoring for prevention The Corby chemical disaster refers to a prolonged period of environmental contamination and its severe health consequences in Corby The disaster primarily emerged due to inadequate waste management practices during the late 20th century particularly during the demolition and disposal of toxic materials from a former steelworks site This negligence led to long-term pollution affecting the health of the local population and raising significant concerns about governmental and corporate accountability in environmental protection The story of this environmental catastrophe and the fight for justice has now been adapted into a major Netflix drama It follows the real-life struggles of a group of mothers in Corby who sought justice after their children were born with birth defects due to toxic waste exposure Described as Britain’s answer to Erin Brockovich Toxic Town aim to bring renewed attention to one of the UK's most significant environmental scandals and the resilience of the affected families in their legal battle against Corby Borough Council Corby was once a thriving hub for the steel industry The town’s economy was heavily dependent on the production of steel large-scale industrial decline led to the closure of the Corby steelworks During the demolition and redevelopment of the site hazardous materials—including toxic chemicals and carcinogenic compounds—were improperly handled and dispersed into the environment The demolition process involved the careless transportation and disposal of industrial waste Reports indicate that trucks carrying contaminated materials moved through residential areas These materials contained dangerous substances such as lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals known to cause severe health issues The soil and water sources around Corby became contaminated leading to significant environmental degradation airborne pollutants increased residents’ exposure to hazardous chemicals particularly affecting pregnant women and young children a group of families noticed an abnormally high rate of birth defects and disabilities in children born in Corby Studies linked these abnormalities to toxic exposure from the steelworks waste mismanagement a High Court ruling found Corby Borough Council liable for negligence in handling the demolition and waste disposal process Families of affected children successfully argued that the contamination was a direct cause of birth defects making it one of the most significant environmental justice cases in the UK The Corby chemical disaster underscores the importance of strict environmental regulations and the duty of care that local authorities must uphold What happened at Corby was largely a result of mismanagement in which improper sampling was conducted as a result of miscommunication between inspectors and site managers regarding the nature of on-site substances all parties involved in sensitive production activities must collaborate transparently The case also set a precedent for legal accountability in environmental contamination cases reinforcing the necessity of public health protections against industrial negligence Today, Corby has undergone significant regeneration, but the scars of its past remain a reminder of the long-term consequences of industrial pollution The disaster serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of neglecting environmental and public health considerations in industrial transitions and urban redevelopment The Corby chemical disaster remains one of the most striking examples of environmental negligence in the UK It highlights the ongoing struggle for justice for affected communities and emphasizes the need for vigilance in enforcing environmental safety standards the case continues to influence environmental policies and legal frameworks for corporate and governmental responsibility SPECTRO Analytical Instruments has expanded the capabilities of its SPECTRO xSORT handheld XRF analyser Restek’s new Resprep FL + CarboPrep Plus SPE cartridges improve Florisil cleanup significantly thereby boosting sample throughput for pesticides as much a.. Whilst it may seem a rather inconsequential date in the calendar the creation of Earth Day marked the beginning of much that we take for granted in enviro.. Oil & Gas Asia SETAC Europe ENVEX 2025 Salon Analyse Industrielle & Instrumentation IFAT Eurasia ShareSaveCommentBusinessHollywood & EntertainmentThe Shocking True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Toxic Town’—What Happened In Corby?ByMonica Mercuri Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Monica is an entertainment reporter covering TV 01:23pm ESTShareSaveCommentToxic Town Season 1 Aimee Lou Wood as Tracy in Episode 1 of Toxic Town Netflix’s new series Toxic Town is now streaming The miniseries follows three mothers as they uncover the cause of their children’s birth defects in a small British town Read on to learn about the U.K.’s largest child poisoning case since thalidomide and what happened to the families involved centers on three mothers—played by Jodie Whittaker and Claudia Jessie—who live in the British steel town of Corby where their children were born with similar birth defects including missing fingers and clubbed feet Toxic Town showcases the families’ decades-long legal battle against the Corby’s borough council which they hold responsible for the mishandling of toxic waste that led to their children’s disabilities was initially unaware of the case that’s been dubbed “the British Erin Brockovich." “The more you look into it, the more complicated it all becomes,” Thorne told Netflix’s Tudum but this one … being taken through the actual truth of it and seeing the journey that they had to go on in order to prove this Here’s everything you need to know about the real-life story behind Toxic Town on Netflix including what happened to the families and the children affected Netflix’s new series Toxic Town is based on the true story of the Corby poisonings in the U.K After the closure of the 680-acre steelworks in 1980 and the waste was transported to a nearby quarry by the local council the improper disposal of the toxic waste led to dozens of children being born with limb deformities a small town about two hours northwest of London thrived as a steel-making hub from the 1930s to the 1960s becoming one of the most industrialized areas in the Midlands leading British Steel to shut down the site and put the local council in charge of the cleanup Large lorries transported the waste (mainly lead and zinc by-products from the steel industry) to two sealed containers northeast of the town "You could taste it in the air; it was sour Then it was common knowledge that this was because they were digging up the pits," Shatford told the site the nurses wrapped him up but said nothing about his hand It wasn’t until she unwrapped the blanket that she discovered he had been born without fingers on his left hand "I was left thinking I must have done something wrong during my pregnancy But I didn’t smoke or drink; I didn’t even take an aspirin It took me a long time to come to terms with what happened." Aimee Lou Wood as Tracy in Episode 4 of .. The class action lawsuit started when four families became aware of each other’s similar stories. According to The Guardian they connected after media coverage of the steelworks’ redevelopment and later testified in the High Court that they had lived in or frequently visited Corby while pregnant civil litigator Des Collins helped the families of the children affected get justice from the local town council which was accused of “environmental negligence on a grand scale." Claudia Jesse as Maggie in Episode 4 of Toxic Town Justice Akenhead ruled that the work had been carried out negligently and that negligence "led to the extensive dispersal of contaminated mud and dust over public areas of Corby and into and over private homes." Jodie Whittaker as Susan (Left) in Episode 3 of Toxic Town Collins told the site that his clients live every day with the lasting effects of the inadequate cleanup of the former British Steel plant no financial sum can properly compensate for their lifelong deformities and disabilities," he said they are relieved that their long battle is now over Today's agreement recognises the many years of emotional and physical suffering the 19 families have endured and will continue to endure It marks the end of an arduous 11-year legal challenge and removes the prospect of further litigation.” The exact financial terms of the settlement are undisclosed whose daughter Ashleigh Custance has issues with her right hand and arm “It's a good outcome after a long battle Carley added that this was one of the first times the council had issued an apology "It’s the first time they have said sorry," she said It's the fact it's not my fault any more That's what puts closure on it." from Corby council chief executive Chris Mallender read: “The council recognises that it made mistakes in its clean-up of the former British Steel site years ago and extends its deepest sympathy to the children and their families.” “Although I accept that money cannot properly compensate these young people for their disabilities and for all that they have suffered to date and their problems in the future the council sincerely hopes that this apology coupled with today’s agreement will mean that they can now put their legal battle behind them and proceed with their lives with a greater degree of financial certainty,” Mallender added at the time Rory Kinnear as Des in Episode 4 of Toxic Town Mr. Collins, portrayed by actor Rory Kinnear in the Netflix series, told the BBC that the toxic waste case needs to be “brought before the public in a more complete way” beyond the Netflix series "This needs to be brought before the public in a more complete way and I’m not criticising the Netflix production at all but I think it really does require - in the light of this - that there should be further examination of the issues," he told the UK news site “A full apology would represent a huge amount [to the families].” However having been replaced by the North Northamptonshire unitary council in April 2021