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Stop Your Junk Mail for Earth’s Sake!
By Tracy Mirsky, Harwinton
The State of Connecticut mandates that its residents and businesses recycle corrugated cardboard, newspapers and magazines. Businesses must recycle office paper. How about junk mail? Tons of the stuff is delivered daily across America. Most is taken from mailboxes and tossed into the trash, ending up in the nation's already bulging landfills. The junk mail nightmare can be attacked from two angles: pro-cycling and recycling.
Recycling is the simpler solution. Being mindful that each ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, requires 7,000 fewer gallons of water to process than virgin paper and saves 4,200 kilowatt hours of electricity (enough to heat your home for six months), simply call your local Dept. of Public Works or your Recycling Coordinator and ask how you can recycle your junk mail.
Pro-cycling presents a challenge, because it involves a persistent commitment. To stop catalog and broadcast advertisements, write to direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735. To stop "occupant" and "resident" items, write to Val Pak Coupons Direct Marketing, PO Box 13428, St. Petersburg, FL 33733; and to ADVO Inc.—List Services, 239 West Service Rd., Hartford, CT 06120; and also to Harte-Hanks List Removal Services, 6701 Daymeadow Dr.—Suite D, Glen Burnie, MD 21060.
For all of the above companies, ask that they remove your name and address from all the list directories that they compile, rent, sell or trade. Ask that they register all variations of your name for removal from their lists. Include those variations, as well as mailing labels from your junk mail (if possible). Name removal from lists may take up to three months to take effect, but you will remain in the delete file for five years.
Stay tuned for information about credit card company lists and list brokers. There's more work to be done!
Tracy Mirsky is Recycling Coordinator for the Town of Harwinton.
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