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- 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 Recycling Program at (650) 496-5910 or email recycling@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? Greendimes, a junk mail reduction service, may be for you. Go to www.greendimes.com for more information. | | |
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How Do I Get Rid of It?
Step 1. Prevent junk mail before it starts.
Step 2. Reduce your current flow of junk mail.
Step 3. Recycle the junk mail you do receive.
Step 4. Additional Tips for Reducing Junk Mail:
Why Do I Get So Much Junk Mail?
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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 greendimes, 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 www.greendimes.com for more information. (Please note that business listings should not be construed as an endorsement by the City of Palo Alto.)
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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
- Contact the companies listed below and ask that they remove your name and address from their mailing lists:
The Polk Company
26955 Northwestern Highway #100
Southfield, MI 48033-4713
No online resource, request must be in writing.
The DMA
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel , NY 10512
www.dmaconsumers.org/
This service will cost $1
Haines & Co. Criss-Cross Directory
Attn: Director of Data Processing
8050 Freedom Avenue., NW
North Canton, OH 44720
ADVO Inc.
Consumer Assistance
PO Box 249
Windsor, CT 06095
www.advo.com/consumersupport.html
Harte Hanks Direct Marketing
Attn: Resident List
6701 Bay Meadow Drive, Suite D
Glenburne, MD 21060
Email: contactus@harte-hanks.com
Carol Wright Gifts
Customer Service
100 Nixon Lane
Edison, NJ 08837-3804
Email: CWSupport@carolwrightgifts.com
Donnelley Marketing
Database Operations
416 South Bell
Ames, IA 50010
No online resource, request must be in writing.
Call the companies listed below and ask that they remove your name from their mailing list.
Call these Toll-Free numbers:
Pennysaver Circulation
800-422-4116
2830 Orbiter St. Brea, CA 92821
(Removal from Pennysaver publication mailing )
Experian Consumer Services
800-407-1088
901 West Bond St.
Lincoln, NE 68521
(Removal from coupon, product sample, and catalog mailings)
Polk Company Consumer Response/Name Deletion
800-873-7655
26955 Northwestern Highway #100
Southfield, MI 48033-4713
(Removal from catalog and service coupon mailings)
1-888-5-OPT-OUT
(1-888-567-8688)
The National Opt-Out Center will remove your name from major credit bureaus including Equifax, Experion, Trans Union, and Novus. It is suggested that the Center be contacted every two years to keep your name from being sold for credit and insurance offers. If you call this number, you don't need to individually call the four major credit agencies. This telephone number connects you to an automated system where you will be asked to leave personal information, including your Social Security number. These agencies already have your Social Security number. It is the most unique piece of information to match you with the many name variations that are sold within the lists and with which junk mail is addressed to you.
- 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.
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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.
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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 Recycling Program at (650) 496-5910 or email recycling@city.palo-alto.ca.us for additional information.
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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
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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.
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