MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Rapid Refill chain of stores is already known as a sustainable retailer that remanufactures ink and toner cartridges to keep durable products out of America’s landfills. From April 3 through May 14, cartridges that are placed in their in-store “bee” boxes will also trigger a cash donation to the Partners for Sustainable Pollinators and their Bee Friendly Farming Initiative. With a tip of the hat to Earth Day, this first promotion of its kind will connect Rapid Refill customers to the growing movement to create a more diverse and strong environment in support of America’s honey bees in peril.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Rapid Refill to increase public awareness about the challenges facing beekeepers and our precious honey bees,” said Kathy Kellison, executive director of Partners for Sustainable Pollination, a nonprofit headquartered Santa Rosa, California. “Rapid Refill's customer support through “Empties for Earth” will help us grow our Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) initiative. BFF recognizes farmers and other land managers, from back yards to public lands, who provide safe, natural forage for our bees. Consumers can reward Bee Friendly Farmers by purchasing their products.”

Colony Collapse Disorder was first identified in 2006 in America when honeybees died or left their hives in such numbers that pollinating America’s agricultural crops were in jeopardy. Dr. Marla Spivak, Professor of Entomology and MacArthur “genius” Award recipient recently said, “One major factor in the decline of all bees is lack of plant food – nectar and pollen that bees require for their nutritional health. It is absolutely critical to plan and conserve agricultural and urban landscapes to support our wildlife, including our forgotten pollinators.” The goal of the Bee Friendly Farming initiative is to educate and recognize those people who are creating the habitat and forage so essential for healthy bees.

Jason Block, COO of Rapid Refill said, “We believe that there are so many small yet significant steps caring customers can make everyday to conserve and preserve our precious resources. Returning printer components to keep them out of landfills, planting native species to keep bees strong and then reaping the rewards of our work together in an abundant harvest all keep us connected to the natural world. You might overlook bees. Heck, you probably overlook printer cartridges. But when you step back, you can see that they are connected when you think about respecting the resources we use everyday.”

Customers are encouraged to bring their ink and toner cartridges to a Rapid Refill store between April 3rd and May 14th and place them in the designated “bee” boxes. All cartridges will be either remanufactured or recycled and a donation will be made to the Bee Friendly Farming initiative. Rapid Refill expects to become one of the Partners for Sustainable Pollinators largest contributors this year through this program.

To learn more about the Partners for Sustainable Pollinators and to register your yard or business as Bee Friendly go to http://www.pfspbees.org/bff.htm.

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SIDEBAR:

5 Ways to Make Your Yard Bee Friendly

1. Keep something blooming year round. 

The same changing blooms that make a perennial garden attractive to humans, make it attractive to bees. Keep something blooming all year long – and plant it in large masses to keep bees happy. Think of a row of lilacs, raspberries and asters, for example, as great spring, summer and fall bloomers.

2. Provide water. 

Bees need access to still (or slow moving) fresh water. A shallow pan (or bird bath) with a few stones place in it makes an excellent bee watering hole.

3. Leave it natural. 

Although you may not love dandelions and chicory, bees do! An undeveloped area without sod gives native pollinators like beetles and wild bees a place to nest.

4. Cut pesticide use. 

As an insect made to gather plant residue, pesticides are especially toxic for bees. If you must use a pesticide, follow label directions and use at dusk instead of the morning when bees will not be foraging.

5. Create a home for a hive. 

Contact a local beekeeping club to request a managed hive on your property, leave dead upright trees standing or consider a native bee nesting box for mason or leafcutter bees.

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About Rapid Refill: Rapid Refill specializes in providing print supplies and services to homes and businesses featuring environmentally friendly Rapid Refill brand products. The experts at Rapid Refill deliver customer-focused and sustainable solutions in communities across the United States. Rapid Refill locations offer free delivery at affordable prices that empower people to make smart buying decisions.

Spokane, WA — Most people dream of working for a company that combines conservation, recycling and community service into a thriving business. For Anthony Kiepe that dream happens everyday and is fueling the growth to expand with a new Rapid Refill store in downtown Spokane.

Kiepe opened his first Rapid Refill retail store in Coeur d’Alene, ID in May 2006 and his second store in the Spokane Valley in January 2007. In June 2010, Kiepe acquired the Spokane franchise from Stu Zimmerman, who had retired. Kiepe spent several months looking for the perfect location in the downtown area to relocate the Spokane store, one that would be convenient downtown and lower south hill clients.

Rapid Refill specializes in the remanufacturing/refilling and selling of inkjet and laser toner cartridges. It offers customers a big price savings and backs all of its products with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

“Since opening my first store, I have been excited to see how the community has responded to our combination of customer service and environmental principles. There was a demand to bring a store to downtown Spokane. We help customers save money and by recycling inkjet and laser toner cartridges, we ease the burden on our local landfills, “said Kiepe.

Kiepe has also been an active community member in Spokane where he has donated time, toner & family vacations to the Boy Scouts of America and is involved with the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador.

Rapid Refill is a leading U.S.-based retailer in its industry. A typical Rapid Refill store carries a wide variety of remanufactured as well as brand name inkjet cartridges and laser toner cartridges. The stores reflect the company’s commitment to the environment. The carpeting in the store is 52 percent post-consumer content and made in part from recycled milk containers. The slat walls are made of recycled wood products and the countertops from compressed sunflower seeds.

But Rapid Refill’s biggest impact is in what could ultimately be the millions of inkjet and laser toner cartridges it keeps from landing in the world’s landfills. In the United States alone nearly eight cartridges are thrown away every second, according to Recharger Magazine. What’s more, each plastic toner requires 3 1/2 quarts of oil to produce; 2 1/2 ounces of oil are used to produce each new inkjet cartridge.

“We are excited to open Rapid Refill in downtown Spokane. Many of our downtown customers have made the trip out to our Spokane Valley location and expressed an overwhelming desire to have a store downtown again,” states Kiepe. “It is with great pleasure that I can make that desire happen.”

Jason Block, COO of Rapid Refill, commented on the expansion, offering, “It is really exciting to see a multi-unit franchisee expand even further. It demonstrates the commitment the Kiepe family and their entire team has to growing their presence in the community and reinforces what our franchise model has to offer. They all represent our brand so well, it really makes us proud, and we can’t wait to see their continued success.”

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About Rapid Refill LLC: Rapid Refill is a Minnesota-based business that has been franchising since 2004 and offers remanufactured, Rapid Refill® brand inkjet cartridges, laser toner cartridges and other supplies for all popular printer and copier brands like Hewlett-Packard (HP), Canon, Epson, Brother, Lexmark, Dell, Samsung, Sharp, Xerox, Oki and more. Rapid Refill retail stores have a huge selection in stock, every day, so customers can buy off the shelf – no more waiting for cartridges to be refilled! Using remanufactured cartridges saves customers money and keeps cartridges out of landfills – two significant advantages over buying new. With over 100 locations in the U.S. and growing, Rapid Refill plans to be the number one source for inkjet and toner cartridges in every community. For franchising opportunities visit www.rapidrefillfranchise.com.

For Immediate Release

March 18, 2011

Media Contact: Erica Volna

Phone: 952-238-1000

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