Just Say No To Junk Mail

The N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance wants to help you get off mailing lists and stop unwanted telemarketing calls and e-mail “spam.”

Not only does junk mail clog the postal system and create a nuisance for you, but it also uses up valuable natural resources and contributes to pollution and litter problems. For every ton of paper generated in the form of junk mail, 17 trees are destroyed. Tons of junk mail are going to landfills around the country every day, depleting precious landfill space.

Every time you provide your name and address to receive a product or service, there's a good chance you are being added to one or more mailing lists. When you buy a car, have a baby, make a purchase from a catalog, give money to a charity or fill out a product registration card, your name will likely be entered into a computer database.

This Web site includes some really great links to let you start reclaiming your privacy and to stop the deluge of unwanted junk mail, spam and telemarketing calls. 

Here are some tried-and-true methods to help you to reduce junk mail at the source.

• Contact the Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service to get off their mailing list. You may use its online form or the mail-in form. Please note that to process your request, DMA charges a $1.00 fee through a credit card for the online form and $1.00 payable by check or money order for the mail-in form. DMA is the oldest and largest trade association for the users and suppliers in the direct, database and interactive marketing field. Sending a request to DMA to have your name and address removed from their mailing list can significantly reduce your junk mail load.
• If you'd like to download DPPEA's Junk Mail form, click HERE and mail into DMA with the $1.00 fee (check/money order).
• Contact the major credit bureaus to request your name to be removed from mailing lists for pre-approved credit cards. The major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax, Inc., Innovis and Trans Union Corp. can be reached at one telephone number: 888-567-8688, or visit the Web site at: http://www.optoutprescreen.com.
• Fill in and return opt-out privacy cards from financial organizations. Financial organizations are now required to provide customers with opt-out privacy cards so you can request that your name be removed from their bulk mailing lists.
• Call those “800” numbers provided on catalogs and other bulk mailings to request your name to be removed from mailing lists. This can be very effective.
• Avoid giving your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to businesses if possible. They may use the information to put you on another mailing list and will oftentimes sell it to other bulk mailers.