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You can Stop
Chopping Down Trees by Eliminating JUNK MAIL
The average American receives 11 pieces of unsolicited
junk mail each week, according to the Center for a
New American Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting
responsible consumerism. Tallied up, that bulk accounts
for 100 million trees lost each year. By reducing
the amount of junk mail you receive each year, you
personally will save two trees and prevent some 92
pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into
the air.
Here is what you can do:
De-list your name Most senders of unsolicited junk
mail get your name and address from one of three sources:
Abacus Catalog Alliance (catalogs), Direct Marketing
Association (fliers, brochures, etc.), or the credit
bureaus (credit card and insurance offers), says Paul
Stephens, a policy analyst with Privacy Rights Clearinghouse,
a consumer advocacy group. If you do nothing else,
take the time to wipe your name from these lists.
"That'll get rid of most of your junk mail,"
he says. Here's how to do so: Abacus Catalog Alliance:
Signing up permanently halts the catalog mailings
from association members. Email optout@abacus-direct.com
with your full name and current address. Direct Marketing
Association: Stops direct mail marketing from association
companies for five years. There is a $1 fee. Access
forms here
for online or mail-in submission. OptOutPrescreen.com:
This joint venture of the three credit bureaus puts
a stop to prescreened credit and insurance solicitations.
Sign up to halt these mailings for five years, or
stop them permanently. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT, or fill
out a form here.
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