This is the information I’ve been waiting for all my life! Earth 911 shares 8 Ways To Reduce Your Junk Mail and tells us why we should:

Junk mail is not only a minor inconvenience in your daily life, but it also takes a toll on the environment.

Nearly 100 million trees are cut down annually to make junk mail in the U.S., according to the Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition, and ForestEthics found that junk mail’s carbon footprint is equal to the greenhouse gases released by 9 million cars or heating 13 million homes in the winter.

The Oregon Metro government website tells us, “More than 85 billion pieces of unsolicited mail get dropped in mail boxes around the country each year – about 100 pounds for every household.” and offers more good advice on how to help the environment by opting-out of receiving it:

Stop junk mail before it starts

• Ask companies you’ve done business with, organizations you’ve donated to, and anyone who sends you a bill not to sell or exchange your address.
• If you move, directly contact everyone yourself instead of submitting the post office change of address form. Otherwise, junk mail can follow you to your new address.
• Don’t submit product registration cards.
• Don’t use a store’s “buyer’s club” card when making purchases.
• Avoid participating in sweepstakes or contests unless you are able to prevent your information from being shared. Look for disclosure notices in the sweepstakes and contest literature.
• List only your telephone number in your local directory, or choose to be unlisted.

I already took the first step – cancelled the delivery of Yellow Book, an item that I never like to see show up on my front steps. It was easy! If you walk through these steps, let me know how you make out.