How to Stop Paper Junk Mail

Tons of junk mail floods U.S. mailboxes each year.

Billions of advertisements are mailed to homes across the U.S. each year, according to the Worldwatch Institute. Bulk mail sent by marketing companies contributes to deforesting because of the millions of trees cut down to produce the necessary paper for catalogs, flyers and other direct mail. If you are tired of your mailbox overflowing with junk mail, there are steps you can take to minimize the amount of direct advertisements you receive.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Paste

Instructions

Instructions

1. Save all the variations of your name and address received from direct marketing companies or businesses. Even if only a comma is out of place, save the address for your list. The slightly different address can still be sold to thousands of businesses.

2. Cut out the address labels from the saved solicitations or mail.

3. Paste the address labels on a sheet of paper. You may choose to write or type all variations of your name and address on a sheet of paper.

4. Write a brief statement requesting your name to be removed, such as, "Please remove my name and address from all of your mailing lists. I do not grant you permission to sell, trade or rent my name or address to businesses and organizations."

5. Make several copies of the letter and sign your name next to each address on the paper.

6. Send a copy of the letter to each of the addresses below:

   R.L. Polk & Company
   Name Deletions, List Compilation Dept.
   6400 Monroe Blvd.
   Taylor, MI 48180
   800-873-7655

   Valassis Direct Mail, Inc.
   Consumer Assistance
   P.O. Box 249
   Windsor, CT 06095
   888-241-6760
   http://www.valassis.com/1024/Contact/contact_home.aspx

   Epsilon Data Services
   Abacus Cooperative Databases
   P.O. Box 1478
   Broomfield, CO 80038
   303-410-5100
   [e-mail]

References

• Ecocycle.org: Stop the Junk Mail Monster!