A WOMAN from Prestatyn has pleaded for help from Denbighshire County Council (DCC) with her waste collections after her skin condition has left her struggling with a new system implemented.

Samantha Fredericks, 32, said she suffers from palmoplantar psoriasis, which typically affects the skin on the palms and soles of the feet, and has no known cure.

This has rendered her unable to separate her waste in the way in which the council has asked its residents to since its new “Trolibocs” system came into effect on June 3.

Changes have included new containers and weekly collections for recyclable materials, and the scrapping of the blue wheelie bin, while some residents have been required to separate their “dry” recycling using a new three-tier “Trolibocs”.

But the council has issued multiple apologies for residents across the county not having their bins collected on time since the new system began.

Samantha was one of the residents given a Trolibocs, but said she is still storing her rubbish in her blue wheelie bin and black bin – yet it is not being collected.

She said: “In April, I contacted DCC about the new bin situation, and the fact I would struggle with it with my skin condition, and how my condition affects what I can and can’t do.

“I can’t be in and out of water constantly, so can’t be rinsing tins out. It affects my mobility, so I can barely walk on my feet, and I constantly have open cuts on my hands.

“I offered DCC photographic and medical evidence. Yet every time I ring the council, they put it down as a missed collection.

“I have a Trolibocs in my back garden, but can’t use it because of my skin condition. I can separate my waste, but it’s washing the waste out and making sure it’s clean that’s the issue. If there’s cross-contamination, then I risk being fined.

“I’m using my blue wheelie bin and black bin, and was advised by DCC to do so until something was put in place. I chased DCC up in June or July, and asked what was going to happen, but was never called back.”

Samantha added that, despite being on an “assisted collection”, a service designed to help people unable to put their bins out themselves, neither of them are being collected.

On multiple occasions, she said, she has had to pay for a private company to empty her “overflowing” bins for her, with both of them now full again.

She said: “It’s not just me that’s having this issue with missed collections, but I just want something put in place to help me.

“I can’t even rip up a cardboard box without shredding my hands into pieces.”

In response, DCC said it would look into Samantha’s case in more detail.

A council spokesperson said: “The council will investigate this case further to ensure that any and all accommodations that are available are applied to help resolve this issue.

“The missed collection issue will also be investigated.

“The council would like to assure residents that fixed penalty notices are in place to ensure that repeat and obvious violations are deterred.

“These will not be enforced in regards to special conditions or cases.”