Junk mail accounts for 1/3 of all mail sent in the United States, adding up to over 800 pieces of junk mail delivered each year to each household.
Want to know how many trees that is? 100 million. Every single year. Just for junk mail. This is equivalent to clear cutting all of Rocky Mountain National Park, every four months.
And that’s not even the end of it. The emissions created from junk mail each year, according to DoNotMail.org, is the equivalent of the emissions created by more than 9,377,000 passenger cars.
Below is a list for stopping junk mail:
1. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
I started with the DMA, and to give them credit I did see a pretty dramatic drop in my junk mail, especially when it came to credit card offers. You can customize your mailing preferences through the DMA by heading here.
If you’ve lost a family member and want to get their name off mailing list, you can sign up for Deceased-Do Not Contact through the DMA here.
2. Val-Pak
Yep, Val-Pak is that blue envelope of useless coupons that shows up every month. What a waste! Unless you’re re-asphalting your driveway or thinking about getting cellulite removal surgery, then these coupons are a waste of time and paper.
You can get off the Val-Pak mailing list here.
Yes, you’ll still need to do this even if you sign up with DMA. After I did DMA, I was still getting Val-Pak coupons.
2. Opt-Out Pre-Screen
Opt-Out Pre-Screen stops you from getting pre-screened or pre-approved credit card offers.
To sign up, click here.
You can also call 888-567-8688 from your home telephone to opt out.
4. Catalogs
If you get catalogs, it’s probably because you bought something.
Anything.
Companies are notorious for selling lists, so if you bought a sweater through L.L. Bean then chances are you’ll start getting a J.Crew catalog, an REI catalog, and a Hearth and Home just for good measure.
If you want to stop the flood of catalogs, send them an email,
Or write to:
Abacus, Inc.
P.O. Box 1478
Broomfield, Colorado 800385. Tacky Store Flyers
I wish I had a picture of the one I got today. It was a HUGE FURNITURE BLOWOUT newspaper-type flyer from the local furniture store. I get them almost daily from car dealerships, hairdressers, pizza stores, department stores – blergh.
These are the flyers that are addressed to Resident. And they usually come from Red Plum marketing.
Want to stop them?
Click here to get off the Red Plum mailing list. You can also call: 888-241-6760.
6. Publishers Clearinghouse
Ok, I’ve never been solicited by Publishers Clearinghouse, but if you have, you can get off their list by sending an email.
7. Other Junk
So, what about those AOL cds and Happy Birthday cards from our dentist that we don’t want or need?
We just have to tell them we don’t want it. If, after signing up with all the resources listed above, you’re still getting some junk, then call the company directly. Ask them to take you off their mailing list.
They can hardly be rude; after all, this is saving them money too.
And your dentist? Ask the receptionist to take you off the mailing list except for cleaning reminders. Better yet, ask if they’ll email you.
Good luck!
SOURCE: Care2
Posted on April 7th, 2010 at 1:47 pm by Lin McNulty
0