STOP JUNK MAIL

This simple step could save enough energy to heat 250,000 homes. What I like about this step is it would actually make most of us happier. Therefore it is a win win situation.

The facts beyond the annoying. All the paper you will receive as junk mail this year is about 1 1/2 trees. If you add this up across the nation this adds up to be about 100 million trees. Even if you are not an environmentalist, this should be an outrage. This loss is due to something we don't even ask for or request to begin with.

* Americans receive about 2 million tons of junk mail every year.
*44% of the junk mail is never opened
*Americans spend about 8 months of their lives opening junk mail
*Made possible by the postal service discount bulk mail rate.


This is a great place to show that even one person can make a huge difference! Many times I think people think, "I'm just one person what difference can I make". By reducing your junk mail, just you are already saving trees.

GET STARTED NOW:

1. Recycle the junk mail you get now. Most recycle places will recycle most any paper unless it has the plastic window in the envelope. At least by doing this they can make your junk mail out of post consumer paper instead of new trees.

2. Call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT this will get yu off the credit card junk mail list. You can't complain about that.

3. Stop catalogs and other mailing by contacting them directly.

4. This suggestion is for the more annoyed and motivated. Write you congressman and pass on some of these facts. For example my class wrote a letter to our congressman this week. In the letter we asked tat a new law to be passed that would make it illegal for bulk mailers to send their mail in envelopes with plastic windows.

Link and resources:


Do-it-yourself: stop junk mail
50 Simple Things YOU Can do To Save The Earth, The Earth, The Earth Works Group This book is available at Amazon and other major bookstores. I HIGHLY recommend this book for those that are environmental freaks, and those that want some great ideas, backed with hard clear facts!
USPS bulk mail site

Thanks for reading this post. Please visit often, as I update this blog with easy ideas for you, your family, and your friends to save the earth.