Register with the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service to reduce your junk mail.
According to 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth:
* 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.
* Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year.
* The yearly production and disposal of junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars.
There are actually at least two options for fulfilling this aspect of the challenge. The first is the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (MPS). For a fee of $1, the MPS will put you on a "do not mail" list that DMA members must follow.
The second option is to sign up with a pay service that will selectively scrub you from certain lists while allowing other mail through. For instance, there's an organization called Green Dimes that says it will block your junk mail while allowing through the catalogues you want. Green Dimes will also plant one tree a month while you're a paying member. However, it comes at a relatively steep price -- $36 a year.
Me? I just went with MPS, the cheaper option. But if you're a Green Dimes fan, please post a comment to make your case on why it's worthwhile!
Me? I just went with MPS, the cheaper option. But if you're a Green Dimes fan, please post a comment to make your case on why it's worthwhile!
Points for this action: 5
Total points to date: 40
Points needed to complete Green Living Challenge: 100
