Physical junk mail may not be as common today as it was 10 years ago, but most of us still receive plenty of unwanted mail in the form of magazines, pamphlets, catalogs, and unnecessary letters. Stopping these communications from getting delivered is a great way to help reduce paper waste, lower emissions, and save natural resources. Here are some tips for how to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive:

Sign up for paperless options with your typical mailers. Banks, insurance companies, utility providers, and healthcare organizations are often required to send physical notices unless you opt out. Most of the time, the letters these companies send will include a website where you can sign up for paperless communications. If you don’t see a website listed, try making a quick search of the company name plus “go paperless” to find the right page. 

You can also register for a few different broader opt-out services for paper mailers. Optoutprescreen.com is a free, credit bureau-run site that allows you to remove your name from all lists used for credit and insurance offers. It requires you to verify your identity and mailing address before opting out. If you receive a lot of credit offers via mail, it can significantly reduce the amount you receive.

Another example of opt-out services is DMAchoice.org. DMA choice is an accredited company which, for a small fee, will remove you from many promotional mailing lists and keep you off them for a set period of time. The general fee for this service is $8 for 10 years, with other subscription options available. Alternatively, for catalogs and subscription mail you no longer want, look for a customer service number or website on the mailing label and request removal directly via email or phone. Companies are required by law to remove you from mailing lists if requests are legitimately submitted. 

Once you have signed up for these paperless options, don’t forget to recycle any unwanted mail you do receive! Most paper mailers, including magazines, envelopes, pamphlets, etc can be recycled curbside. For paper products that require shredding, stop by Recycle Utah to use our shredding service and recycle your shredded paper! 

By Mia Moore