I have learned that over 100 million trees are cut down every year to make junk mail.  Another stat I found is that 44% of all junk mail ends up in the garbage unopened.  To me, this means that 44 million trees are cut down every year for basically no reason at all.  This waste serves no purpose and is such a waste.  Not only is junk mail a waste, it is annoying.  So, the following is a list of interesting things you can do to reuse, recycle and stop junk mail.

1. Put all of your junk mail in the recycling bin
2. Go to www.dmachoice.org and sign up to be taken off of mailing lists.  This was fairly easy to do, but not sure on the overall effectiveness.  This does not remove you from mailings with companies you have previously done business with.
3. As junk mail comes in, contact the individual companies to be taken off of their mailing lists
4. Via Bohemian revolution – using shredded junk mail as packing material
5. Via Bohemian revolution – Use it as Easter basket grass
6. Via Bohemian revolution– Add flour and water to use as paper mache
7. Via Bohemian revolution – Ask the local animal shelter if they can use it for bedding
8. Via Bohemian revolution – Give this paper to kids with water colors and glue for art projects
9. Go to OptOutPrescreen.com or call 888-567-8688 and stop getting junk mail from Credit Cards.  Just a warning that they require you to give your SSN.  I found several sources online indicated that this is a valid way to remove yourself from this list.
10. Stop getting the phone book. Holy crap, I don’t think I look up 2 numbers a year but get 6 phone books.   What a waste.  I have not done this yet, but will.
11. If they provide envelopes, remove/hide spam information and reuse the envelope.
12. Gift Wrap
13. Use the blank side of any pages for scratch paper
14. Use the envelopes for holding coupons, seeds, or other small items
15. Make your own Gift Bag… seriously.
16. Make a bookmark
17. Make a Christmas Ornament
18. Make your own artsy paper
19. When you sign up for anything, take more precaution to make sure you are not put on their lists.
20. Find, suggest and support do-not-mail legislation
21. Use it as mulch
22. Use it as kitty litter(only 30% though… see comments).  Ok, I am not sure I can get on board with this one, but am very impressed someone is doing this.
23. Send junk mail back to senderif there is a pre-paid envelope.  I even found some stories of adding as much weight as possible to the return envelope.  This is a little vindictive I suppose, but kind of funny.
24. Make a junk mail pirate hat or a junk mail Speedo.  I have no plans for either of these, but think they are good ideas anyhow.

Let me know what you think and please add any that you can think of.

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