Betty Sherman, is the sole owner and occupant of an East Calla Road home where she's lived for years. She's also been a long-time customer of Ohio Valley Waste Services, her trash service provider.

However a severe case of COPD has made the average chore a tall task, including taking out the trash.

"My breathing is horrible," said Betty, who is hooked up to an oxygen machine.

Recently, Betty's family had her mail delivery location from the road to the front porch, a process Betty tells 21 News was easy, but attempts to try and have her trash can taken from the back of her home to the curb have been far from smooth-sailing.

"I'm paying $73.50 and they want to charge me $168.", said Betty, referring to the quarterly costs.

Ohio Valley Waste Services tells 21 News this has nothing to do with discrimination, but because they require different equipment for non-curbside pickup.

Betty's daughter-in-law Roxanne was told over the phone by an official with Ohio Valley Waste, that someone walking onto her property to get the trash can is a liability. Betty says she doesn't want to pay for another service, being that she rarely fills up her one can during any given week.

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti says he's aware of the situation and spoke to the family.

"As a part of our human nature we should all be striving to help each other. I find it it somewhat disturbing that the company would do that to a person struggling. I would like to see them rectify this. I just find it wrong increasing her collection fee almost 3x. It almost seems they are punishing her more instead of trying to rectify it.", said Traficanti.