The University News

Issue date: 9/28/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy Ink Cycle Press Relations Cartridges are filled and tested in assembly lines at the facility located in Lenexa, Kan.

Combining environmental practices with ink equals Grenk.

Grenk is a remanufactured ink cartridge and ink toner created with saving the environment in mind - and UMKC is the first college in the country to use it.

However, with only seven departments ordering the product, LaserCycle President Charlotte Barksdale said there is room to expand.

"You are the first to use it, but you have not quite embraced it," Barksdale said. "We feel this really fits in with the university's mission of sustainability."

Grenk cartridges are made by a local company called InkCycle and are distributed to hundreds of companies nationally by the sister company LaserCycle.

Owner and founder of the sister companies, Rick Krska, is committed to making the process of recycling used ink and toner cartridges as environmentally friendly as possible while creating a good product.

As the number one producer of remanufactured cartridges in the world, some customers include Hallmark, KCP&L, UMB, Commerce Bank, the city of Olathe and JE Dunn.

Barksdale said the company strives to be very transparent with its customers, letting them know exactly how the product is produced. In fact, they offer tours and materials to explain the process.

First, the empty cartridges arrive, the inside is completely cleaned out so it's like new, a new sponge and ink are placed inside, the product goes through stringent testing and then it is shipped off to customers.

With strict quality standards, Sean Burns, business operations manager for LaserCycle, said they go to great lengths to ensure customers are satisfied with the product.

Each cartridge is put in a printer and tested.

"I think we are the most frequent purchasers of used printers on Ebay," he joked.

Going through so many supplies, the company recycles as much as possible.

The used paper is recycled for packing, the plastic chards and retired cartridges are sent off to be burnt and used as a power source and Krska took an unprecedented step in purchasing a water filtration system so the water used to clean out the cartridges will be clean before it's sent back to the water plant for reuse.

UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton is a mentor to Barksdale. She has spoken with him about the companies' commitment to the environment.

"As he said to me, this is not something that you can force down people's throats," Barksdale said. "However, if it fits within a strategy, then it would work."

Benefits of using Grenk include a saving of 20-30 percent off retail prices of cartridges and UMKC receives same-day or next-day delivery.

Students, staff and faculty can receive the same benefits as the university if they choose to order for personal printers.

For more information, e-mail Joshua Trask at jtrask@lasercycle.com or visit www.lasercycle.com

Currently, seven departments are using Grenk cartridges:

1. Parking Services

2. Environmental Health

3. Computing and Engineering

4. Human Resources

5. Procurement Services

6. Administration

7. Networking and Telecommunication

alang@unews.com

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