In the average year Americans receive 19 billion catalogs in the mail. That boils down to 3.6 million tons of paper at the cost of 53 million trees. Production of the paper used for American catalogs uses the same amount of energy required to power 1.2 million homes in a year, and contributes annual emissions equal to that created by 2 million cars. The junk mail that comes to your house can be controlled. The following will help you to reduce your junk mail.
Register online for Mail Preference Service
There is no fee for online registration. Visit: https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action.
Register for the Mail Preference Service by mail. Send a letter plus a $1 check or money order to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Click here for a simple mail-in form, www.privacyrights.org/Letters/jm1a.htm.
When you register, your name and address are placed in a do not mail file which is updated monthly and distributed to DMA members quarterly. DMA members are required to update their lists at least quarterly, and some do it monthly. Businesses who are not members of the DMA also take advantage of this do not mail list, so registering with the DMA will reduce much of your junk mail.
Register names of deceased
The Direct Marketing Association also gives you the ability to register the names of deceased loved ones with their Deceased Do Not Contact list (DDNC) at: https://preference.the-dma.org/cgi/ddnc.php. Click on the Continue button at the button of the page to get to the form.
Hey, want to stop telemarketers too? For information on the federal "Do Not Call" list to avoid telemarketer calls, see: https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx
No one likes getting junk mail or being interrupted by a telemarketer in the middle of a Dukes of Hazzard marathon so these steps should be beneficial for you. I know they are for the environment.
