How to Reduce Junk Mail

Image Gallery There are a handful of easy ways you can keep your mailbox from overflowing with unwanted mail. ISTOCKPHOTO/ALEXEY STIOP

Tired of opening your mailbox to piles of unwanted promotions? On average, each American receives 41 pounds of junk mail per year, and more than 100 million trees are lost annually to produce those advertisements and solicitations. While you likely receive mail from businesses or causes that you value, you probably get mail from many in which you have no interest. As always, you can recycle your excess mail, and thankfully, easy options now exist to minimize or even completely stop unwanted mail.

Web sites such as GreenDimes.com and 41pounds.org can remove your name from direct mail advertisers' lists for a fee ($36 for one year; $41 for five years, respectively). Less pricey alternatives and a few simple tips also can significantly reduce the amount of junk mail sent to your home.

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• DirectMail.com compiles a list of people who indicate that they don't want to receive advertisements in the mail. Registration for the list is free, and the Web site then supplies the list to mass mailers, which can choose to check it with their mailing lists and remove names that appear on both.
  
  
  
  
  

  For a $1 processing fee, the Direct Marketing Association can add your name to its 'do not mail' list. The DMA requires its more than 3,600 member companies to match their marketing lists with the 'do not mail' list. You will see junk mail decrease about three months after your name gets on the list, which is updated four times a year.

  
  

  Both services assure that they do not pass along your name or address to any mailing lists. Both work only for home addresses, not business addresses. Neither can guarantee a complete stop to junk mail, and be aware that registering for either list can also prevent you from receiving mail you might want, such as coupons, catalogues, and mail from nonprofit and charitable organizations.

  
  
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