| Junk mail is more than a nuisance. It's harmful to the | | | | publishing companies and catalog companies that |
| environment. | | | | compile the names and addresses of those of us who |
| Each of us gets 40 pounds of junk mail every year. | | | | like to order from mail order catalogs. Then they share |
| The number of trees required to produce that much | | | | the information with other companies in the alliance. |
| mail for all of us? 100 million. | | | | You can opt out of this alliance by sending an email to |
| The Center for a New American Dream says that's | | | | or a letter to Abacus, Inc. PO Box 1478, Broomfield, |
| like deforesting Rocky Mountain National Park 3 times | | | | CO 80038 |
| each year - and that creating and then getting rid of all | | | | Some catalog companies don't check these opt-out |
| that junk mail takes more energy than 3 million cars. | | | | programs. In this case, and for any company that |
| The Environmental Protection Agency reports that, in | | | | continues to send you direct mail advertising, find the |
| 2005, almost 6 million tons of direct mail and catalogs | | | | customer service number or address and ask to be |
| went into the garbage. That's enough to fill nearly | | | | removed from the list. You can also request that they |
| 500,000 garbage trucks. Only 22 percent of the stuff | | | | not share your information with other advertisers. |
| is recycled. | | | | 4. Contact individual senders. The three steps detailed |
| These huge environmental costs come with little | | | | above should dramatically reduce the amount of junk |
| reward. Americans toss 44 percent of the mail without | | | | mail you receive. For the rest of it, your best bet is to |
| even opening it, and we respond to just 2 percent it. | | | | contact the senders individually. These companies are |
| You may be surprised to find how easy it is to | | | | required to allow you to opt out of their mailings. It may |
| dramatically reduce the amount of junk mail you | | | | take some time to contact everyone who is sending |
| receive. Here's what you can do today: | | | | you junk mail, but it is worth it for you and the |
| 1. Register with the Direct Marketing Association's | | | | environment. Note that if a piece of unsolicited mail is |
| Opt-Out Program. The Direct Marketing Association | | | | sent First Class, you can send it back. Mark off your |
| (DMA) has a Mail Preference Service, which is the | | | | information and write "Refused-Return to Sender." |
| closest thing to a Do Not Mail list that the country has | | | | 5. Consider your phone listing. It's helpful to get an |
| at the moment. DMA members are required to use | | | | unlisted telephone number because some marketers |
| this opt-out program. Non-members are granted | | | | obtain your name and address from phone listings. If |
| access to the list and encouraged, but not required, to | | | | you don't want to be unlisted, you can ask the phone |
| use it. | | | | company to not list your address with your name. |
| Registration works only for home addresses (not | | | | Most will do this at no charge. |
| business addresses) and will stop only national mailings. | | | | 6. Protect your personal information. Give your |
| Still, the DMA says this will stop as much as 75 | | | | personal information only to trusted companies with |
| percent of the national direct mail pieces you receive. | | | | the specific request that they not share it or sell it. It |
| The fastest way to get on this list is to fill out the online | | | | may help to request a privacy designation with your |
| form at DMAConsumers.org. The form asks for your | | | | mortgage company, cable company, bank, etcetera, as |
| credit card number because you will be charged a $1 | | | | well as any magazines you subscribe to and any clubs |
| processing fee. | | | | or groups you belong to (including the loyalty program |
| You can also request activation of the preference | | | | at the supermarket.) Let them know in writing that you |
| service via mail. Simply send your full name and | | | | don't want your personal information shared. |
| address, along with a $1 check or money order, | | | | 7. Think twice before sending in the product registration |
| payable to DMA (no cash), to: Mail Preference Service, | | | | cards. Product registration cards and customer survey |
| P.O. Box 282, Carmel, NY 10512 | | | | cards often put you on a mailing list, as well. If you |
| You will need to allow about 90 days for the | | | | send in the card (which you may want to do so that |
| unwanted mail to begin to decrease (a little longer if | | | | you will be notified in case of a recall, for example) |
| you mail in the form instead of filling it out online.) | | | | include only the most essential information (generally, |
| This should cover you for 5 years, at which point you | | | | your name and address, date of purchase and the |
| will need to register again. | | | | serial number of product.) And include a request that |
| 2. Stop the credit card offers. Visit or call | | | | your personal information not be shared. |
| 1-888-5OptOut (1-888-567-8688). The major credit | | | | 8. Use caution when entering sweepstakes and |
| bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) maintain | | | | contests. Submit your name and address for |
| this free service, which allows you to opt out of offers | | | | sweepstakes only if there is an option for opting out of |
| for credit or insurance. The whole process takes less | | | | the resulting mailing list. |
| than one minute. You can opt out via the website for a | | | | It probably isn't possible to stop all the junk mail, so for |
| duration of five years. If you wish to opt out | | | | those bits of mail that seep through, make sure to |
| permanently, you need to do it by mail. The website | | | | recycle it. And know that you did what you could to |
| has instructions for doing that, as well. | | | | give Mother Earth a little break. |
| 3. Reduce the catalogs. There is an alliance of | | | | |