It’s time to opt out

Recycla and her family moved last winter and no exaggeration, they had not even spent one night in the house when they started getting junk mail in their new mail box.  Now, five months later, Recycla has started receiving catalogs she has never even heard of.

Getting a mail box full of unwanted mail is bad enough, but think about the wasted paper and other resources. The average American receives more than 500 pieces of junk mail every year.  That’s about 100 million trees cut down to sell crapola that no one wants or needs.

What’s an Eco Warrior to do?

Opt out.

That’s right, opt out, eco baby.  It’s not required that you have a mail box full of catalogs and other nonsense.  So here are some websites you can go to and opt out of catalogs you don’t want:

• DirectMail.com — This is a free service that is quick and effective.
• MailStopper — This is a paid service, but they guarantee that they’ll stop 90% of your junk mail in 90 days or less.  They’ll even plant 5 trees on your behalf!
• CatalogChoice — Target those pesky catalogs that are filling your recycling bin.
• OptOutPrescreen.com — Getting too many credit card offers in the mail?  Then this is the service for you!
• YellowPagesGoesGreen — Tired of getting phonebooks you don’t need?  Sign up here!

Recycla used DirectMail.com at her old house to cut back on junk mail and was happy with the results.  She has also signed up at her new address and is looking forward to no longer getting catalogs for Ye Olde Crappe in the mail every day.

Tell the Eco Women:  What’s the most unwanted catalog you’ve received in the mail recently?  What, if anything, have you done so far to cut back on the paper trail?

All information courtesy of Ideal Bite.