- We use about 52 million trees and 25 billion gallons of water to produce one year's worth of this country's junk mail.
- Individually, an average of 41 pounds of junk mail are sent to every adult each year. About 44 percent of this goes unread and directly into the garbage.
- The average adult is on 50 mailing lists.
For a FREE, printed Junk Mail Reduction Kit with pre-addressed cards, please contact the Zero Waste Program at (650) 496-5910 or email zerowaste@cityofpaloalto.org.
You can also go paperless and reduce your junk mail using the links and phone numbers provided below.
Short on time or prefer the convenience of having someone else do the work of contacting mailers to get your name removed from their mailing lists? MailStopper, a junk mail reduction service, may be for you. Go to http://mailstopper.tonic.com/ for more information.
Why Do I Get So Much Junk Mail?
When you subscribe to a publication, place a credit card order, order items through the mail or the Internet, join an organization, donate to a charity, or enter a sweepstakes chances are your name is being added to a mailing list of some kind. In addition, there are companies who are in the business of selling your name to other companies who believe you may purchase their products or services.
How Do I Get Rid of It?
To reduce junk mail, you need to reduce access to your name and address so that it won't be traded, rented, or sold to companies who send you unwanted mail. This kit will help keep new junk mail from finding its way to your doorstep, show you how to reduce your current flow of mail, and offer recycling options for the occasional piece that sneaks in.
If you do nothing else, follow steps one and two to keep additional junk mail from entering your mailbox. Then you can focus on reducing your current flow of unwanted mail.
If you are short on time or prefer the convenience of having someone else contact the companies for you, you may want to see if MailStopper, a junk mail reduction service is for you. They'll take your and other family members' names off major direct mail lists, reduce unsolicited credit and insurance offers and unsubscribe you from unwanted catalogs. Go to http://www.mailstopper.tonic.com/ for more information. (Please note that business listings should not be construed as an endorsement by the City of Palo Alto.)
Step 1. Prevent junk mail before it starts
Remove your name from mailing lists of companies who send you catalogs, sweepstakes entries, and coupons by sending letters or postcards to the companies listed below. Include the following information in the letters or postcards:
Your name
Your address, including city, state, and zip code
This message:
"I am instructing you NOT to LEND, SELL, or TRADE my name to any other organization for its mailing lists.
I want to reduce the amount of paper and resources being spent to generate unwanted mail."
Sign your name and date the card.
Send separate cards for each person who receives unwanted
mail at your address, and for any variation of your name that you
find on your unwanted mail, for example:
Linda Ann Brown
Linda Brown
L. A. Brown
L. Brown
Call, write or go online to the following companies and request your name be taken off their list:
Direct Mail: The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) charges a $1 fee to be taken off their master list, if the request is sent via mail. There is no fee for online requests. DMA is the single largest provider of direct mail lists.
DMA Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 282
Carmel, NY 10512
Online form: http://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action
Credit Card Offers: You do not need to provide your Social Security number. Stay on the line and they will process your request without your Social Security number.
Equifax/Trans Union/Novus/Experian
1-888-567-8688
Sweepstakes:
Publishers Clearinghouse: 1-800-645-9242
Junk Faxes: Stop junk faxes by contacting the sender of the faxes. If you are unsuccessful, file a complaint with:
Consumer Information Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
445 – 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
1-888-225-5322
fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/unwantedfaxes.html
Step 2. Reduce your current flow of junk mail.
Remove your name from any mailing lists as soon as you receive an unwanted piece of direct mail. Most catalogs include an 800 number. If so, request that your name be removed from their mailing list (it will take a few months for your name to exit their mailing system). If you receive unsolicited flyers, newspapers, or advertising circulars, call the subscription department, or the company's information number and ask them to remove your name from their list.
Some junk mail is marked "address correction requested" or "return postage guaranteed." If your mail has this wording, return it unopened to the sender by writing "Refused-return to sender" on the envelope.
Step 3. Recycle the junk mail you do receive.
Some unwanted mail will undoubtedly get through, so please recycle it!
Residents in single family homes can place junk mail in the dark green crate for recycling mixed paper.
Residents in apartment or condominium complexes can receive a wheeled cart for mixed paper recycling.
Manager or owner permission is required.
Businesses can also recycle junk mail in their mixed paper recycling containers.
Take mixed paper to the Palo Alto Recycling Drop-off Center.
Contact the Palo Alto Zero Waste Program at (650) 496-5910 or email zerowaste@cityofpaloalto.org for additional information.
Step 4. Additional Tips for Reducing Junk Mail:
Post Office Change-of-Address Cards
The Post Office rents the information from Change-of-address cards to private businesses. This is how national list brokers, credit bureaus, and others may get your name in the first place. As an alternative solution, send out your own postcards announcing your new address to those whose mail you want to receive. You can also ask the Post Office to hold your mail for pick up until everyone knows your address.
Warranty Cards
It isn't necessary to complete warranty cards to be covered by warranty. The only reason to return a warranty card is to find out about product recalls. If you want to return the card for that reason, only provide your name, address, and product serial number.
Stop Junk Mail Association
This organization lobbies on behalf of postal privacy rights.
For more information, call them at 800-827-5549 or go online to www.StopJunkMail.org.
When making donations, ordering items through the mail, or subscribing to a publication, include a note that instructs the organization or company to not lend, sell, or trade your name to other mailing lists.
