Stop Junk Mail

Fliers, credit card applications, and coupon books aren’t only annoying, they use trees and add to the waste stream. But stopping them is next to impossible. You’d need to contact the Direct Marketing Association, credit bureaus, and catalog distributors individually. Who has that kind of time?

There’s a better way vanquish junk mail. Two new organizations, 41Pounds.org and Greendimes.com, will contact direct marketers and other companies on your behalf and have them remove your name from mailing lists. Both companies also take extra steps to preserve the environment: Greendimes plants one tree a month for each of its members, while 41Pounds donates over half its profits to environmental groups, local schools, and youth groups. Membership fees are modest–41Pounds charges $41 for five years of coverage, and Greendimes costs $36 a year or $360 for a lifetime membership.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

KS G.

5:01AM PST on Jan 13, 2011

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

NO EMAILS P.

2:20AM PST on Nov 7, 2010

thanks

Robert O.

2:33PM PDT on Nov 4, 2010

Thanks.

Pat T.

11:09AM PDT on Jul 4, 2010

My mail box is full from numerous organizations asking for money,over and over and over .
I open it only to seperate the recycleable parts .
Its a crying shame...
pat

Ana G.

2:40AM PDT on Jun 26, 2010

New American Dream ~ Tell House and Senate Leaders to Let Americans Free Themselves from Junk Mail ~ Sign the petition to form a Do Not Mail Registry in USA ~ http://bit.ly/9sdaaL & http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/281/t/5980/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=941

Also Tell notorious junk mailers to respect our privacy and forests! New @ForestEthics action ~ http://ow.ly/1rlWQ

Monica D.

11:49PM PDT on Apr 18, 2010

I think that the law should be changed to say that noone is to get any junk mail unless they ask to get it.

Abo r.

2:04AM PDT on Apr 12, 2010

Noted

Cheryl B.

6:22PM PDT on Apr 8, 2010

Thanks for the info... 41Pounds and Greendimes sound great

Nora J.

5:26PM PST on Feb 16, 2010

Sorry, I just realised I had posted a similar comment earlier. However, I strongly believe in consumer power. These corporations are after OUR money, so we DO have the power. If we choose not to buy, they fail.

We know we cannot rely on politicians to do the right thing and eradicate this enormous problem which is decimating the world's forests. Our pollies are too busy getting themselves in and out of hot water. Where is the junk mail problem on Peter Garrett's agenda? Not even on the radar!!

5:05PM PST on Feb 16, 2010

I think going on the 'No Junk Mail' list or putting a sign on your letterbox makes very little difference. The companies print a certain amount of this rubbish and pay people peanuts to deliver it. It is no skin off their nose if you accept it or not - they just throw the surplus in the garbage.

My husband and I collect the junk and, at intervals, take it to Australia Post. When this inconveniences them enough, Oz Post will have to start charging companies to send their junk, instead of the free ride they are presently enjoying. Once these companies have to pay for it, we will see it start to peeter out. The only message they seem to understand is the dollar sign - I expect they care little about the environment or anything else. I also try not to patronise stores that send out too much junk, after I have returned their catalogues to them personally.