One Bin at a Time Reigniting the Spirit of Recycling at Aquinas When you walk the halls of Aquinas today, it’s not unusual to see middle school students wheeling bins from room to room, chatting about paper waste, aluminum cans, and the value of a clean planet. What began as a quiet initiative led by sixth grade teacher Mrs. Jocelyn Baschnagel has grown into a grassroots movement—one that’s making a real impact across campus. “This isn’t a brand-new idea,” Mrs. Baschnagel explains. “Years ago, there was a recycling program in place at Aquinas with small blue bins in classrooms. But over time, it fell apart— mainly because bins were misused, and sorting became overwhelming.” But this year, Mrs. Baschnagel saw too much waste being tossed into regular trash cans—paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and knew it was time to act. She reached out to faculty and staff first, asking if they’d like a recycling bin placed in their room. Twelve responded almost immediately. With a few volunteer students and a lot of initiative, the AQ Recycling Project was born (or, rather, reborn). “We bought bins, made signs, and jumped right in,” Mrs. Baschnagel says. “By the end of the year, even more people had joined in.” What’s made this effort so successful isn’t just the logistics, it’s the energy behind it. Students are learning firsthand the value of sustainability. Mrs. Baschnagel’s sixth graders, in particular, have become active participants. “I would stop them in the cafeteria and show them how to break down their lunch boxes before tossing them in the bin,” she says. “They’d ask questions. They started to care.” Even better, students have seen how recycling can turn into real support for their peers. Returnable bottles and cans collected through the project have raised small but meaningful funds—enough to purchase accordion file folders, pencils, and other essentials for students in need. “It’s not just about the environment,” Mrs. Baschnagel adds. “It’s about taking care of each other, too.” This spring, two high school students—Jane Atkinson ’25 and Frances Pogroszewski ‘25—joined the effort, managing pickup for an additional 15 rooms and encouraging broader participation. “It was so encouraging to see the older students step in,” Mrs. Baschnagel says. “Their enthusiasm made a real difference.” Of course, challenges remain. Some bins are still misused, with gum, food, and liquids making sorting more difficult—and unhygienic. There’s also the practical question of disposal: there’s no current recycling pickup at AQ, so Mrs. Baschnagel has taken the responsibility of transporting collected items home each week. “It works for now,” she says, “but as more people get involved, we’ll need more support—hopefully even a recycling truck to come to campus.” Still, the tone is optimistic. Students stop in the hallway to ask questions. Older peers notice. Conversations happen. The culture is shifting, one small action at a time. “We have an opportunity to do better,” Mrs. Baschnagel says. “And this year has shown that our students and staff want to. We’re just getting started.” A special thank you to Mrs. Baschnagel for her leadership and dedication to this initiative, to the faculty and staff who embraced the program and made room for change, and to the many students—both middle and high school—who volunteered their time and energy to make this project possible. Your commitment to sustainability, stewardship, and community truly reflects what it means to be AQ Proud! 24 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SUMMER 2025
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