As an eco-conscious person, I try to find reasonable ways to reduce my footprint.  No, I’m not biking my way to the supermarket 5 miles away or building my entire home out of green materials.  Those actions are highly commendable, but right now I am just trying to do a little at a time.  And this was one of my first steps.

Now, for the record, I don’t hate all junk mail.  Sure, I don’t want a postcard from the real estate agent asking me to let her sell my home that I just bought 6 months ago.  But I do have to confess to being a catalog addict.  I am now in recovery thanks to a relentless 12-step program, but I used to have catalogs everywhere, as my disgruntled husband can attest to.

But suddenly, a light bulb turned on in my head and I realized what this habit was doing to my planet.  I was recycling 5 or more catalogs a week.  Of course recycling is good, but not having to recycle them in the first place is better.  So I have cleared the clutter out of my mailbox using internet-based services.  And here’s how I did it for FREE:

Reduce commercial junk mail through these websites

• Pro Quo www.proquo.com
• Direct Marketing Association https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action
• Credit Card Offers www.optoutprescreen.com
• Valassis or Red Plum www.advo.com/consumersupport.html
• PennySaver (800-422-4116) or The Flyer (813-626-SELL)
• Val-Pak Savings Coupons www.coxtarget.com/mailsuppression/s/DisplayMailSuppressionForm
• DirectMail.com https://www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/

Stop mail for former residents

Fill out a Post Office change of address card on their behalf. You must fill out one card for each unique last name. Write "Moved, Left No Forwarding Address" as the new address. Sign your own name and write "Form filled in by current resident of the house, [Your Name], agent for the above". You must write "agent for the above".

• USPS Address Change Form https://moversguide.usps.com/icoa/flow.do?_flowExecutionKey=_c4B89DC4C-0F51-77E1-5DE4-F4DEE8F76B0D_kA42D5CC1-A279-B705-8273-995A357848F5

Cancel catalogs and shop online

This also reduces unnecessary spending!

• Catalog Choice http://www.catalogchoice.org/ 

Cancel magazine/newspaper subscriptions

Read your articles articles online

Eliminate your phone book

• Yellow Pages "Goes Green" www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org

Get rid of your fax machine entirely

Scanning and emailing documents is cheaper, easier, faster, reduces waste, reduces mess and creates better image resolution.  And if you're in an industry that needs fax, an e-fax number will serve you well.

Sign a Petition

• Democracy in Action http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/newdream/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=5076&t=default.dwt
• Write Your U.S. Representative https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
• Paperless Petition www.paperlesspetition.org

There are PAID junk mail services ranging from $20 to $41 per year, but I’m a DIY kind of girl.  Although you will probably need to renew your preferences every year or so, it won’t take more than 10 minutes if you choose to do-it-yourself.

One thing to keep in mind: most advertisements are printed 4-8 weeks in advance, so it may take them a while to catch up.  And be persistent-- not all requests are honored the first time around.  If you find that you still receive trace bits of junk mail after six weeks or so, contact the small local marketers directly.  Many of these acquire addresses on an annual basis and may not realize that you want to opt-out.