How many pounds of junk mail/catalogs do you get each week?

I’ve often through about doing the opposite; signing up for an much junk mail as I possibly can. Then I would roll it all into logs and burn them in my fireplace for the winter.

Try the Direct Marketers Association Web site. It’s supposed to get you off the master list. Sorry I don’t have the URL handy.

I’m one of those “disgruntled” letter carriers everyone has heard about. Just to let you know, you can write or sign up online to stop much of the bulk mailings, and it will lighten up…for awhile. Unfortunately, whenever you subscribe to a magazine or newspaper, or when you sign up for something or fill out some form which includes your address, you go right back on mailing lists. You can refuse mail. Just mark any unopened mail that you don’t want “refused” and your carrier will pick it up.

I don’t usually weigh my junk mail….
I love getting catalogs in the mail, but I hate getting junk emails.

What AstroChuck says here is big news. Great. A little hard on the poor carriers, who have to carry this stuff both directions….
I love catalogues too, but I don’t order anything, so what’s the point? The point, for me, is the landfill. We actually resorted to getting a post office box – and going to the post office every 2 or 3 days to get mail – rather than receive any more junk mail. Works, but costs.

So then you just throw away your catalogs at the post office?

Whatever I get (flyers, leaflets, catalogs, letters for ‘the resident’), goes straight in to the recycle bin – except the updated menu from Domino’s or the local chinese or curry house.
I think I’m lucky, because I really don’t get that much, probably average of 1 per day – and we get free recycle collection every 2 weeks, so it works out.

@cheebdragon, I believe PO boxes don’t get bulk mail.

We used to get tons but finally just called every place that seemed to have us on their ‘list’ and made them stop. You have to be slightly harsh but it is effective.

@Kev: I have a POB as does almost everyone else in this small hamlet. We get all the catalogs, newsprint discount coupons from local stores and every other piece of junk mail. The Post mistress has removed the trash bin because we were all dumping the junk and expecting her to do the recycling.

I have tried calling and registering on the URL sites dozens of times. It is hopeless and takes forever. Post Mistress says that she is obliged by law to stuff every box with all the junk.

Post mistress? Wow! We’ve got to get one of those where I work!

She is 60, has 3 children and 11 grandchildren. She also breaks the law by giving us other people’s mail when they are ill or out-of-town. The PO is teeny and the place to get all the gossip and happening stuff.

We drag all the catalogs to the town dump transfer station, which is another hot spot for socializing.

I get catalogs for men, kids, pets, fat ladies, fly fishing…what a waste.

cheeb, because it’s second-class mail, post office won’t forward us catalogues
from our “old” address (which is nothing more than our street address). Nothing else has worked, including “getting harsh” – in fact, often we’ve found that when we call to ask for a cessation of catalogues, they begin sending us an extra one.
We still order stuff online. When too many suppliers have our post office box number and have begun sending catalogues directly there, we’ll get a different box. I guess.
Thinking further, writing “refused” on the stuff doesn’t solve the
problems of a) landfill and b) this junk floating back and forth between the catalogue companies and me via the USPO, which I pay for. As do you.

Susan, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Whether we send them back or to the recycle bin, there’s so much embodied energy and waste in the process. Reducing the waste – like you’ve tried to do – seems like the way to solve the problem systemically. This is why I was curious if anyone has had luck with GreenDimes.org. Still curious. :)

@susanc-2nd class (now called periodical class) is forwarded, but only for 6 months, while first class in forwarded for a year. Most catalogues are sent as standard mail (formally known as bulk rate) and is not forwarded unless the mailer paid for forwarding service.

GreenDimes here,

We’ve received oodles of testimonials and dozens of press attesting to our effectiveness. But certainly I understand your concern. Why don’t you give our Free Service a shot? We’ll plant a tree just for signing up.

Wowy guys, GreenDimes looks pretty great to me. I’m doin it.

Why would you need to pay for a service? Most deliverers of junk mail observe “No Junk Mail” signs on letterboxes.

Unless you mean junk mail as in addressed letters which are actually advertising, in which case it would be harder to stop.