The true story behind Netflix’s Toxic Town: how a group of Corby mothers took on a negligent council and won a landmark case for environmental justice.
I just binged the entire four-episode run of Toxic Town on Netflix, and wow—what a gut-punch of a series. This limited series isn’t just compelling television; it’s based on a real-life case that shook a small town in England. It also set a legal precedent for environmental justice.
The Real Story of Corby’s Toxic Waste Disaster
For decades, the town of Corby in Northamptonshire, England, was known for its steel industry. But when the Corby Borough Council dismantled the old steelworks in the 1980s and 1990s, they did so with reckless disregard for public safety. Toxic waste was mishandled, improperly transported, and carried through the air as dust containing dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals.
And the people who suffered most? The children.
Studies found a disturbingly high rate of birth defects among children born in Corby during this time—specifically, limb differences. The heartbreaking reality was that the toxic chemicals in the air were not just environmental hazards but direct threats to unborn children.
The Women Who Fought Back
The legal battle that followed was led by a group of determined mothers who took on Corby Borough Council in a landmark case that ultimately proved the connection between the toxic waste and the birth defects. It was a hard legal battle, but in 2009 the court ruled in their favor. It quickly became a groundbreaking victory for environmental justice.
Netflix’s Toxic Town dramatizes this fight with an incredible cast, including Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who), Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), and Claudia Jessie (Bridgerton). But as powerful as their performances are, the real women—Susan McIntyre, Tracey Taylor, and Maggie Mahon—are the true heroes of this story.
Watch the Real Women Behind the Story
If you’ve finished the series and want to hear from the real women who took on Corby Borough Council, you’re in luck. In the video below, Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood sit down with the real Susan McIntyre, Tracey Taylor, and Maggie Mahon to talk about their fight for justice and for their kids.
This series is a must-watch, but the actual story is even more important. These mothers changed history, proving that sometimes, the most powerful voices come from those who refuse to back down.
