Five Alive

You know junk mail can be annoying. You might have heard junk mail creates opportunities for identity theft (those pre-approved credit offers can provide a scammer with just about everything they need to get moving on a new line of credit in your name). Either of those alone are two good reasons to stanch the tide of junk mail in your life.

But did you know junk mail is also an ecological hazard? According to the Smithsonian, millions of trees and billions of gallons of water are used annually to produce that unwanted mail. Further, they claim the majority of junk mail is collected as trash rather than as the recyclable material that it is.

Easy ways to break the chain:

Have you name removed from national mailing lists. (You must renew your registration on this list every five years.) Send your name, address and signature to:
    Mail Preference Service
    c/o Direct Marketing Association
    P.O. Box 643
    Carmel, NY 10512

Have your name removed from pre-approved credit offer rolls. Call the opt-out line at:  
    888-567-8688

Notify your current financial institutions and credit card companies that your name is not to be sold or rented. Often they will provide you with a form to do this; if not, call or email. 

Many subscription to magazines, catalogs, and organizations offer an easy way to notify them that you do not want your information shared, rented, or sold. If you don't find this option in the enrollment materials, notify them by phone or email that you do not want your information shared, rented, or sold. You can do the same with warranty cards and contributions to causes.

Filed under: how-to, Five Alive, the environment