A recycling trailer recently set up in Lehighton continues to haul in aluminum beverage cans at a feverish pace.

The Lehighton Fire Department Water Rescue and Recovery Team recently acquired the trailer from Kingston through a private sale through an advertisement on Facebook.

Housed alongside the borough’s Public Works Garage on East Penn Street since June 19, the 622-cubic-foot trailer has fared extremely well, according to firefighter/trainer Rodney Rehnert.

“There’s been a good response of donations,” Rehnert said. “It’s over half full.”

Rehnert said the department has received two large donations; one from a friend of a fire police officer who dropped off five 55-gallon drums full of crushed cans, and the other from a family in Weatherly that dropped off 10 bags.

“People come down and can drop off their aluminum beverage cans only,” Rehnert said. “We are only accepting aluminum beverage cans.”

Rehnert said the water rescue and dive team was looking for a fundraiser when it happened to come across a post from the Aquashicola Fire Company on Facebook. The Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company’s aluminum can donations program began in January of 1989.

“We made an educated decision,” he said. “And we felt with the population of Lehighton, it would not be (taking away) from another organization.”

Rehnert noted that Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1 has supplied the majority of cans, which comes as no surprise as it’s always been a huge supporter.

“The majority of our equipment has come from Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1 (through donations),” he said. “They’ve been a big help for the water rescue and recovery team.”

Rehnert said the trailer remains a “work in progress,” and added they plan to add a portable cage to give them the ability to stuff more cans inside.

“We’re hoping this becomes a permanent fundraiser for us,” he said. “The donation drop-off is open to the public anytime.”