As published in the Lafayette Today newspaper.
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Around this time of year, we start bracing ourselves for the onslaught of junk mail that will begin arriving for the holidays. But it doesn’t have to arrive. This is a perfect time of the year to take a few easy steps to prevent junk mail from being sent to you. There are many new services that make it easier than ever.
We’ve all gotten adept at dumping junk mail in our recycle bins, but it is much, much better to prevent it from arriving in the first place. One reason is that an estimated 100 million trees are chopped down every year to make the junk mail that we toss in the recycle bin--44% of it unopened. And all of the energy used to create and dispose of that junk mail is equal to about 2.8 million cars on the road. It’s also a big time waster. The average American spends 70 hours each year dealing with junk mail. So, when you stop junk mail at the source, you’re saving trees, energy and time.
Utilize marketing opt-out services. Sign up for the free Direct Mail “Do Not Mail” list (directmail.com) or register your name with the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service (dmachoice.org). After you do this, the DMA will add you to its “Do Not Mail” database.
Opt-out of credit card offers. To stop junk mail from credit card, mortgage, and insurance companies, try going to OptOutPreScreen.com which allows you to remove your name from lists generated by the four major credit bureaus-- Equifax, Innovis, TransUnion, and Experian.
Use Catalog Choice to prevent unwanted catalogs. This free service (catalogchoice.org) lets you sign out of many popular catalogs all at once. Or simply call a catalog’s phone number and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
Utilize a stop junk mail kit. Use the kit offered by the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (wastediversion.org/JunkMailKit.htm) or the Stop the Junk Mail Kit from the Consumer Research Institute (stopjunk.com). These kits typically list suggested steps to take, and sometimes include pre-addressed postcards to use for requesting removal from a mailing list.
Use a new junk mail removal service. If all of this junk mail removal sounds like too much work you can pay to have it done for you. 41 Pounds (41pounds.org), Green Dimes (greendimes.com), and Stop the Junk Mail (stopthejunkmail.com) are new services that will stop your junk mail for a fee.
Sign up for electronic billing. Even though bills are not junk mail, they can still be reduced or eliminated. Many utilities and credit card companies offer this service for free. All you need is your bank or debit card information and an email address to set it up once.
Other ideas that help reduce unnecessary mail include online banking and paying your taxes online.
To learn more about how to eliminate junk mail and how other residents in Lamorinda are reducing waste and living more sustainably, please visit
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