Living Green: Start with Eliminating Incoming Junk Mail!

Green Living is on everyone’s mind these days. It’s the “hot issue” of our day, and responsible citizens are starting to look at more ways to reduce pollution and unnecessary waste. Many of my Professional Organizing clients ask me what they can do to stop this unwanted mail from crowding up their mail boxes on a daily basis. You can take action steps that will eliminate the clutter of junk mail and help to save the environment as well.
Here’s a quote from Mother Earth News:
You can make a difference. By cutting back on the amount of junk mail you receive you reduce the need for new landfills, help save the environment and reduce your garbage collection bills and taxes.
So, in addition to doing your part to preserve our environment, reducing junk mail can help you to save money.
The book 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth lists the elimination of unwanted junk mail as its number 2 recommendation. Here are a few interesting “junk mail statistics” from the book:
• Each year, 100 million trees are used to produce junk mail;
• 250,000 homes could be heated with one day's supply of junk mail; and
• Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year.
So how do we eliminate the constant influx of junk mail?
To reduce the amount of junk mail you receive, and ultimately eliminate junk mail altogether, write or call the Direct Marketing Association and ask to be removed from all mailing and marketing lists. Be sure to repeat this step if and when your address changes. Here's the address and phone number:
Mail Preference Service
c/o Direct Marketing Association
PO BOX 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008
212.768.7277

For more information, visit: http://www.ecofuture.org/jmdma.html
Another thing you can do to reduce junk mail and credit card offers is have your name, address and phone number removed from the lists of the three main credit bureaus. This is your right in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Include your full name: first, middle and last, along with your current mailing address AND previous mailing addresses you've had in the last six months. Be sure to include your Date of Birth and your Social Security number. If you’re uncomfortable with sharing your SS number and Date of Birth, give each bureau a call, and find out if they will remove your name without divulging those pieces of information. Here are the names and addresses of the three main credit bureaus:
Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
1-888-567-8688
www.equifax.com

TransUnion, LLC
Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
1-800-888-4213
www.transunion.com

Experian
475 Anton Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
1-888-397-3742
www.experian.com

I found the following quote on http://www.nationalscoreindex.com/scorenews_archive_01b.aspx:
"You have a right to request removal, or to "opt out," from marketing lists for credit card companies, in accordance with privacy amendments to the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can contact the credit bureaus and have them remove your name and address from major credit bureau lists for unsolicited credit offers for two years or indefinitely. If you wish for your name to be removed, complete and return an "opt-out" form, provided on request from the credit bureau or call 1-888-5-OPTOUT."
Now, until the influx of junk mail stops and you continue to receive those pesky pieces of mail, GET A CROSSCUT SHREDDER. I advise my clients to open their mail over the shredder. The shreddings can be recycled - what a great idea in this "Green Conscious" society we live in! And here’s another use for those shreddings: gift bag fillers – another way to save money!
Enjoy your newfound freedom from Junk Mail and enjoy the knowledge that you are doing your part to preserve our environment.
Regina O’Leary, President of House to Home Redesign, Inc. can be reached at 561.756.4368 or info@house2homeredesign.com. Website: www.house2homeredesign.com.