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Junk Mail: If the Name Fits

Posted on 11. May, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton in Going Paperless

Who doesn’t remember the anticipation of receiving postcards from abroad, letters from a beloved relative or news from far-flung pen pals? Examining the envelopes was almost as intriguing as exploring the contents. Smudged postal ink showed origins of Johannesburg or Dijon, where my two childhood pen pals lived; I savored the unfamiliar whirls, colors and images on foreign stamps before carefully sliding a finger along the inside edge of the envelope.

Yes, there was a time when posted mail was full of an alluring promise of adventure, good stories and friendship. But these days, most mail has been reduced to bills or junk mail. Postcards are few, handwritten letters even fewer. The anticipation of something great is still there, but when all you find is a circular for sale-priced beef at the local grocery store (and you happen to be vegetarian), there is a serious letdown (and evidence of a serious disconnect between marketer and consumer).

The reality is this: It’s estimated that we each receive about 40 pounds of junk mail every year. Surprisingly, only about 20 percent of junk mail gets recycled. We need to step up our game and do more to staunch the flow of junk mail to our mailboxes. And we need to do a better job of recycling what actually makes it inside.

At my house, junk mail makes a non-stop trip from mailbox to recycling bin. No layovers on a counter. No delayed sorting on my desk. It’s immediately filed in the recycling bin, under “Don’t Waste My Time.”

I’ve also taken a few simple steps to reduce the flow to my mailbox. Try one or two and see if it makes a difference for you. Pass these tips along to your tenants, too.

•    Guard Your Personal Info: We offer up our personal information without question to just about anyone who asks for it. Once released, your valuable data travels fast. Choose privacy options when available, and decline invitations to be added to mailing lists.

•    Register with the DMA: You can control the flow of unsolicited catalogs and other direct mail offers, as well as fine-tune offers you actually want to receive by registering at DMAchoice.org.

•    Limit Credit Offers: Not only does an unsolicited credit offer create more junk mail, it increases your risk of identity fraud. Opt out of receiving unsolicited credit card offers via mail.

•    Get a Handle on Stuff like Phone Books: In the span of a year, I received three hefty collections published by three different companies. The last time I cracked a phone book was circa 1987. When’s the last time you used one? Take a few seconds to remove your name from phone book lists.

•    Choose Paperless: It’s not just about junk mail: You can simplify other aspects of your mail as well. I’ve happily switched to cloud computing services like paperless invoicing and payment with my mortgage provider and a variety of other companies who bill me regularly. I also participate in paperless banking and paperless statement delivery with my healthcare provider.

I still have a pen pal, though not one of the originals. There’s nothing like the simple joy of receiving a real, honest-to-goodness letter once in a while.

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Tags: Eco Friendly, environmentally conscious, paperless, recycle