Junk Mail Blues: How to Stop Junk Mail from Coming to your Mailbox
While listening to the Post Reports this week, I was intrigued to learn about the impact junk mail has on the environment. According to the Washington Post, Americans receive 41 lbs. of junk mail each year. That’s almost 7 million pounds of “junk” paper circulating in the U.S. each year! Not only is it annoying, but it’s a burden on our communities’ trash & recycling systems. So what can you do to cut down on the junk mail you receive? Here are a few suggestions:
OptOutPreScreen.com - This secure website run by the major credit card companies allows you to input your information in order to permanently discontinue receiving letters about you being “pre-selected” for credit cards and insurance deals. This is free to do on their website and then you must mail them a letter to confirm your opt-out choice.
DMAChoice.org - A service that allows you to stop delivery of catalogs and magazines from national brands. This should stop about 80% of promotional offers. Register online for $4 and this will stop things for 10 years. It’s not immediate, but you should notice a decline in a few weeks.
Catalogchoice.org - This is a free service that allows you to choose the catalogs that you’d like to no longer receive catalogs from. It’s cumbersome as you need to pick each one that you’d no longer like to receive, but it is free.
Paper Karma - $25 initial fee and $3.99 for each month thereafter. This is a phone app that allows you to take a picture of each piece of junk mail or catalogs and then they’ll take you off their mailing list.
