Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Stop Junk Mail; Save the World

As LA as a City and a community moves to reduce its footprint on the world (via people like this), there are some things we can do as individuals to help. One way is to recycle junk mail that comes to us daily and unnecessarily. But what if we didn't get that junk mail?

There is a way to get ride of junk mail, with the information courtesy of the City of LA. They say it takes 3 to 6 months to feel the impact, but it's wort a shot. Some of the suggestions are:

Return Junk Mail Stamped "Address Correction Requested" or "Return Postage Guaranteed"
Return it unopened to the sender by writing "refused, return to sender" on the envelope. DO NOT write this on mail without that special notation; otherwise the post office will not return it to the sender.

Get off National Mailing Lists
Write to the address below and ask to be placed on a "suppress" file. Include a list of your name and address in all the different ways it appears on your junk mail. The Mail Preference Service places your name in the suppress file for five years. The Direct Marketing Association sends this list to its business subscribers four times a year.
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

Notify Mailing List Brokers
Some companies specialize in collecting and selling mailing lists. Write or call these companies and ask to be placed in their "suppress" files:

The Polk Co. (formerly National Demographics & Lifestyles)
(800) 873-7655
(Maintains city directory lists.)

Donelly Marketing, Inc.
First Data Solutions, Data Base Operations
1235 N Avenue
Nevada, IA 50201-1419
(888) 633-4402

Experian
(800) 407-1088

Database America
Compilation Department
100 Paragon Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-4591
(800) 223-7777

Haines & Co.
Criss-Cross Directory
Attn: Director of Data Processing
8050 Freedom Ave., NW
North Canton, OH 44720
(800) 562-8262

Reduce Coupons, Ads, Product Samples
If you don't want these items, check for the name of the company distributing the item. Write or call and ask that your address be removed from the company's lists. One company mailing these items is:
Advo Incorporated
Delivery Services
1001 W. Walnut Street
Compton, CA 90220-5191
(310) 637-0438

Visit the "Stop Junk Mail" page for more information and the complete list of tips.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the post. One of the quickest and surest ways I have found for reducing junk mail is to simply stop pre-screened credit card offers. All you need to do is call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).

On a related note, does anyone know how to stop that Supermarkets ads that show up in my mailbox all the time?