In choosing my second topic for this blog, I consulted my list of ways I would like to see my husband go green. However, the topic I selected wasn’t on my list at all. This is something that I have always frustrated me, but I just never did anything about. I had come across this link that gives stats and a visual description of how much companies use to produce those junk catalogs that we don’t even look at anyways. Also as Ben said, 41 pounds of junk mail is what an average person receives a year, most of which we don’t even look at. This is what made me want to take action, once and for all.
Many people argue that you can just recycle the catalogs that you receive instead of throwing them away. But I have a better idea. Removing your name from mailing lists not only saves the forests that are cut down, the oil extracted and water needed to produce these catalogs, but it will also save you “70 hours a year” while sorting through junk mail. Now I work at a company that sends out catalogs to customers each year, so I understand how it works. You purchase from one company; they can then sell your name to other catalog companies.
There are many resources out there now to remove your name from mailing lists. I am new at this but so far I have signed up at DMAchoice.org, and catalogchoice.com. These websites seem easy to navigate and user friendly. I have yet to encounter a problem. Throughout the year we will keep tabs on what type of junk mail we get and remove our names from their mailing lists. I think that one year of this will mean many more years of junk mail freedom.
I noticed there were two websites at the bottom of one of those links. One of which is globaljunkmailcrisis.org. It looks like if you a particular amount, $23.00 they will take care of eliminating junk mail from your household for 5 years. I am wondering if anyone has heard of this or has used this service before, and if it’s a credible site? Please leave any additional ideas for removing our names from mailing lists that are successful. Currently we are calling each company to have them take off our name.
I don’t believe they can stop junk mail, but would be interested in knowing if it works for anybody. I think they just want our $23 bucks. We could plant several trees for $23.
I have canceled the delivery of yellow and white pages to my home. I also call the junk mail companies directly and have them take my address off of their mailing list. Verizon was tough, because the person on the phone had no clue that they could do this. However it was taken care of.
Some people use the inside of the envelopes to craft with. One woman saved her junk mail for one year, and now she is making art books out of all of the paper.
I’ve saved the return envelopes and took them to a preschool. The kids love to fold up their art work in these envelopes, play post office, etc.
You can shred your junk mail, and then use it as packing material.
“One woman saved her junk mail for one year, and now she is making art books out of all of the paper.” That is awesome… thanks for your input Kristy!