Last week when I was taking out the recycling, (which seems to be way more often than I would like... but at least it's not trash!) I noticed just how much Junk Mail I get. And seriously it is all JUNK! Why do I need flyers about weekly specials from every local pharmacy & grocery store? Is it really necessary to solicit me for the same credit card I already have?
Not only is this phenomenon of junk mail annoying, but it is a serious waste of natural resources. Energy is wasted in the creation of these products and then wasted in the responsible destruction of them as well. Not to mention the trees and habitats being destroyed, all so I can glimpse at the weekly deals for a millisecond and toss it in my recycling container. Is it worth it? Absolutely not.
So what did I find when I looked more into this situation at hand (literally!).
On average, an American household receives 1 personal correspondence a week and 18 pieces of junk mail.
You will waste 8 months of your life dealing with junk mail.
44% of junk mail goes in the landfill unopened!
Direct mail creates 10 billion pounds of solid waste. That's equivalent to 151,000 full cement trucks!
So how can we address this issue?
1.) Figure out the culprit. Who is sending you this junk mail?
2.) Go to www.catalogchoice.org and sign up for FREE to say no to junk mail!
3.) Create an account, search out the company and add them to your list.
4.) Voila! No more junk mail!!!
Make your actions count! By saying no to junk mail you are saving trees and ecosystems, making squirrels happy and helping to stop energy waste. Nicely done! :0)
