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The massive amount of junk mail that is shoved through the intestines of our postal system and unloaded into our homes is the product of our violated privacy. The negative impact that junk mail has on the environment is substantial and the most irritating part of the situation is that we are the ones stuck with the burden of reducing, recycling and eliminating the unsolicited product.

Each year 100 million trees are used to produce junk mail. Pulp processing to produce paper for junk mail requires 25 billion gallons of water. Over 74,000 acres of trees are cut just for catalogs. 250,000 homes could be heated with a day's supply of junk mail. Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year. 93% of junk mail will be ultimately discarded. Heavy metals from colored ink do not degrade and re-enter the environment. Much of the junk mail finds its way to our overflowing landfills. Americans spend more that $275 million a year to dispose of junk mail. There is no case that can be made to justify this irresponsible promotional method practiced by so many corporations, except that it must be a cheap method to generate revenue.

How do these companies find you? It turns out that list trading, on its own, is a $3 billion business. Direct mail organizations buy your name and personal information from credit bureaus, credit card companies, banks, magazine subscription lists, information off of warranty cards, mortgage companies, and other commercial services. Anyone who sends you a bill can sell your name. Also, many of the charities we support earn as much from name selling as they do from donations. Even the post office, twice a year, sells the names of people who have submitted Change of Address Forms.

As mentioned before, the corporations who stimulate business in this reckless manner assume no accountability for the aftermath. It is up to the conscientious consumer to diminish the damaging effects of unsolicited bulk mailings. That just doesn't seem right, does it? However, that is the current condition and if you substantially reduce the amount of junk mail you receive this year you will personally save two trees and prevent 92 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released to the atmosphere. So here's what you do:

1. De-list your name from the three major sources of names and personal information. They are Abacus Catalog Alliance (catalogs) at optout@abacus-direct.com, Direct Marketing Association (fliers and brochures) at https://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/ and

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