Driving the the grocery store yesterday, I caught a bit of an NPR program where an environmentalist from ForestEthics was taking about efforts to save rain forests and wilderness areas. I didn’t catch all of the details (and haven’t been able to locate the audio file), but one fact clearly penetrated my consciousness: paper for catalogs and junk mail is responsible for a huge amount of deforestation, including irreplaceable wilderness and rain forest areas.
Seeing as much of this material is printed out, mailed to us, and goes directly in the trash, this is obviously a very lose-lose proposition. The marketers are not selling their products, we’re making more trash, and countless trees and resources are squandered daily in the entire time-and-money-wasting cycle. So in the spirit of being a Good Karma Host, I went looking for easy ways that the individual can eliminate unwanted junk mail.
Credit: Much of this info came from helpful articles like this one from 41pounds.org, so named because “an average of 41 pounds of junk mail is sent to every adult citizen each year. Approximately 44% of this mail goes into a landfill unopened.” 
That’s why this is important.
Eliminating Pre Approved Credit Card & Insurance Offers
Do you really need a new credit card anyway? I know I don’t! And I know how to find insurance should I be looking to purchase some.
- OptOutPrescreen.com- OptOutPrescreen.com is a joint venture of Equifax, Experian Innovis, and TransUnion–the major credit reporting agencies. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) these agencies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make offers of credit or insurance. The FCRA also allows you the ability to “Opt-Out”, which prevents them from providing your credit file information for firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you. You can either do an online request for removal (last 5 years) or a permanent request for removal (requires mailing in request form). You may also opt-out by dialing 888-5-OPT-OUT (888-567-8688). Please be aware that the opt-out request does require personal information, including your name, address, phone number and social security number. Time to opt-out: 5 minutes.
For Direct Marketing
Be aware that opt-outs help keep you off prospect lists but not customer lists. If you have purchased from a company before, you may have to contact them directly or through a service to request removal from their lists.
- DMAChoice.org - DMAChoice is the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) opt-out service. DMA is the leading trade association for businesses and nonprofits sending direct mail, representing nearly 3,600 companies. You must register to use this service, and you have options for stopping a particular type of mail, such as catalogs, magazine offers or general offers. There is also contact info for member organizations easily available here. Like OptOutPrescreen, some personal information will be required to sign up. However, you’re not asked for your social security number here. I noted the DMA’s spin on direct mail distinctly more charitable than the environmental websites I looked at. However, a service is a service and I consider this one useful. Time to opt-out: 10 minutes.
- Valassis- Another Direct Marketing Association, also markets under the name “RedPlum Media.” They send a number of grocery circulars. Quick online form to fill out requiring basic information. Time to opt-out: 2 minutes.
- Epsilon Data Services / Abacus Cooperative Databases – Epsilon manages a number of databases used to send direct mail catalogs. To opt-out, you can send an email to abacusoptout@epsilon.com with “remove” in the subject line and your full name, including middle initial, and address in the message. If you changed your address over the past six months, include your previous address as well. Look for a confirmation email a few minutes after sending your request. Time to opt-out: 1 minute.
It really was a small investment of time and energy. However, if you want things quicker and easier, perhaps a commercial opt-out service may be more to your liking.
Commercial Services
- 41pounds.org - This service promises to stop 80%-95% of junk mail and catalogs for five years. The cost is $41, covering your entire household. For every person who signs up, 41pounds.org donates more than 1/3 of the fee to an organization you select. They’ve currently raised more than $160,000 for various nonprofits.
- GreenDimes- GreenDimes promises to top up to 90% of your junk mail in just 90 days, working with over 6,500 direct marketers. As of this writing, the service costs $20/annually. They also plant 5 trees on your behalf when you sign up.
In less than 20 minutes, I was able to opt-out of countless unwanted offers, catalogs and junk mail. How cool is that? Indeed, opting out is a very easy way for an individual to make a difference, don’t you think?Do you have any tips for reducing unwanted junk mail? Add them to the comments to share with others! And thank you–for being a host of good karma.
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Posted on February 4, 2009 at 2:34 pm in: Good Karma
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Is there a trial?
Everything linked before the “Commercial Services” headline in the post is free. I didn’t sign up for the commercial options, but 41pounds.org offers a guarantee. And GreenDimes (who apparently changed their name to “Tonic Mailstopper”) is only $20/year, so it’s not a huge investment to risk.
I have noticed a significant reduction in my junk mail since I’ve done the free options as well. The only stuff I’m getting now is primarily from places I’ve ordered from previously, so I’ll probably have to request removal from their mailing lists manually. But all in all, a pretty good return on the investment of a little time.
Didn’t know about it. Very nice information. Submitted this post to Google News Reader.
Thank you! Much appreciated.