Reducing Junk Mail October 13, 2007

Each person will receive almost 40 pounds of junk mail this year. That translates to 4.5 million tons of junk mail produced each year and the destruction of 100 million trees – that’s the equivalent of deforesting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every four months. This is senseless since more than half of unsolicited mail is discarded unread or unopened; the response rate is less than 2%. And, if you’re like me, you hate the waste!

Even though I recycle junk mail, I don’t want it in the first place. I’ve been able to reduce the amount of junk mail over the years by following a few simple rules:

1. Don’t enter sweepstakes contests.
   When you register, your name will most likely appear on lists used by other contest promoters. Lists are usually rented or sold. You’ll either get more junk mail or calls from telemarketers.
2. Have an unlisted phone number.
   If you are listed in the white pages, your name and address is public information and can be mined by mailing list companies who sell it to mail-order companies and telemarketing firms. You can also request to have just your name and number listed in the white pages.
3. Don’t fill in “product registration cards”.
   These are used to create mailing lists not register your product for the warranty. Your product is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty whether you return the card or not. Keep your receipt for proof of purchase. Registration cards are usually not mailed to the company that manufactured the product, but to a post office box in Denver, Colorado. Write National Demographics & Lifestyles (a firm that collects this information) to have your name removed:
   NDL List Order Services
   1621 18th Street, Suite 300
   Denver, CO 80202
4. Remove your name from the major credit bureaus mailing lists.
   Call 888-567-8688, an automated phone line that takes you off the lists of all major credit bureaus. You can also do this on-line at: http://www.optoutprescreen.com. This should reduce the number of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers you receive. You have to do this every 5 years.
5. Register for the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service.
   You can do this on-line or by mail The cost is $1. The Direct Marketing Association represents many mail order sales companies, and estimates that listing your name with their mail preference service will stop 75% of all national mailings coming to your home. Companies that do not participate in the DMA program must be contacted directly.

Resource: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

Related Post: Christmas Catalog Crush

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