A few "somethings" to help reduce unwanted catalogs and junk mail

In comments yesterday, Swampy (my recyclin’ sistah) shared a link to Catalog Choice, a sponsored project of the Ecology Center. Its stated mission is "to reduce the number of repeat and
unsolicited catalog mailings, and to promote the adoption of sustainable
industry best practices."

You can browse through an alphabetical listing of catalogs to opt out of receiving them, or simply type in the name of the catalog itself. Swampy opted out of 50–can you top that?

That comment reminded me of a previous post of Karmyn’s at Dreaming What Ifs; in it, she provided the contact information for several companies which will register you to opt out of receiving credit card offers. One of her readers then suggested registering with optoutprescreen.com. In doing so, you will accomplish the same result as if you wrote to each of the companies noted below: for five years you will opt out of receiving firm offers for credit or insurance.

Don’t you agree? It’s these little individual efforts that, when bracketed together with thousands of other individual efforts, can abrogate an avalanche of paper!

S o m e b o d y needs to be shoutin’ "Amen!".

If you choose to write the companies below, make sure to include a line indicating your wish to OPT-OUT from any Prescreened Offers of Credit.

Experian Target Marketing, P.O. Box 919, 701 Experian Parkway B2,Allen, TX 75013

Equifax Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

Trans Union Corporation, Attn: Marketing Opt Out, P.O. Box 505, Woodlyn, PA 19094-0505

12 Comments

Emily on at

Thank you VERY much for this information! I’m opting out of a whole bunch of junk mail right now! 🙂

Infinity Goods on at

Yes, good post. We all get too much junk. And for several more ways to get rid of it, come by my January WFMW post.
http://infinitygoods.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/hit-the-road-junk-and-dont-come-back-no-more/

inheritorofheaven on at

I checked out the optout link. I did not fill it out yet but people should note that it says you can (and I believe should) decide not to give them your social security number and date of birth.

chrisb on at

I must investigate this for the UK. I currently have a huge pile of catalogues I am about to return to sender. Apparently if you do this three times they take you off the list~ I’ll wait and see if this is true!

Ian on at

Great post full of great information. One of life’s major annoyances! I think, in the US at least, most junk mail senders are required to include in their small print opt-out options but they are usually impossible to find phone numbers that just lead to even greater levels of hassle.
Thanks again for the info.

Alana on at

We used 41pounds.org to eliminate our junk mail – I know our mailman loves us now. Thanks for sharing this information – great tip.

Alix on at

Thanks for posting this the junk mail here is insane. I seem to get a Pottery barn catalogue nearly every day !

Jana on at

I was just saying to Hubby the other day what a waste it is to get all these catalogs that just go straight in the trash. Thanks so much for this info!

Brandon Satrom on at

This is great stuff Robin, thanks. I wanted to also mention http://www.greendimes.com/, a similar service. for $20 they will eliminate 90% of ALL your junk mail and plant 10 trees on your behalf. It’s pretty cool!

Karmyn R on at

I needed the catalog one.
I chose about 10 that were on the top of my head –
and get this….when I checked to see the progrress = Cabela’s had REFUSED my offer to opt-out. Can you freaking believe it? I am shocked.

anonymous on at

Don’t forget that your husband works for the paper industry and makes the paper for those catalogs and “junk” mail. You may want to rethink what you opt out of before he gets opted out.

Jmayle on at

am using http://www.stopthejunkmail.com to stop unwanted mail. It cost a few bucks a month and has unlimited stops. But it is effective. I got a hand written letter in the mail from lands end last week. So the service is working great for me. Thank for point out the other options.

Emily on at

Thank you VERY much for this information! I’m opting out of a whole bunch of junk mail right now! 🙂
Infinity Goods on at

Yes, good post. We all get too much junk. And for several more ways to get rid of it, come by my January WFMW post.
http://infinitygoods.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/hit-the-road-junk-and-dont-come-back-no-more/
inheritorofheaven on at

I checked out the optout link. I did not fill it out yet but people should note that it says you can (and I believe should) decide not to give them your social security number and date of birth.
chrisb on at

I must investigate this for the UK. I currently have a huge pile of catalogues I am about to return to sender. Apparently if you do this three times they take you off the list~ I’ll wait and see if this is true!
Ian on at

Great post full of great information. One of life’s major annoyances! I think, in the US at least, most junk mail senders are required to include in their small print opt-out options but they are usually impossible to find phone numbers that just lead to even greater levels of hassle.
Thanks again for the info.
Alana on at

We used 41pounds.org to eliminate our junk mail – I know our mailman loves us now. Thanks for sharing this information – great tip.
Alix on at

Thanks for posting this the junk mail here is insane. I seem to get a Pottery barn catalogue nearly every day !
Jana on at

I was just saying to Hubby the other day what a waste it is to get all these catalogs that just go straight in the trash. Thanks so much for this info!
Brandon Satrom on at

This is great stuff Robin, thanks. I wanted to also mention http://www.greendimes.com/, a similar service. for $20 they will eliminate 90% of ALL your junk mail and plant 10 trees on your behalf. It’s pretty cool!
Karmyn R on at

I needed the catalog one.
I chose about 10 that were on the top of my head –
and get this….when I checked to see the progrress = Cabela’s had REFUSED my offer to opt-out. Can you freaking believe it? I am shocked.
anonymous on at

Don’t forget that your husband works for the paper industry and makes the paper for those catalogs and “junk” mail. You may want to rethink what you opt out of before he gets opted out.
Jmayle on at

am using http://www.stopthejunkmail.com to stop unwanted mail. It cost a few bucks a month and has unlimited stops. But it is effective. I got a hand written letter in the mail from lands end last week. So the service is working great for me. Thank for point out the other options.