Get Rid of Phone Books and Opt Out of Junk Mail
...or Conservation of Trees: Ways to Save Paper
Last updated November 14, 2008
Here's what I think of phone books: They are just dead trees between two yellow covers! This is a great idea and I wish I thought of it. We get so many different phone books delivered to our driveway each year and how often do you actually dig the book out of your closet when you can just google the business name and get all the information you need pronto?
This tip will without a doubt help our environment immediately. If we all actually did this – and passed this on to each of our friends, just think of how many less phone books would be printed! There would be fewer trees killed, less electricity used, less emissions from the cars that deliver them to your door, and so on and so on!
If you are tired of receiving these 10-lb phonebooks on your doorstep several times a year which end up collecting dust or going in the recycle bin, you can opt out. Took me 30 seconds. Just follow these directions:
- Go to www.selectyourdex.com
- Enter your home zip code
- Enter customer information
- Select "0" for all directories listed
- Submit Request
And while we are at it, I recently heard that the postal service is going to be cutting their workforce for the first time ever. Is it because there are fewer bills coming to consumers? I can only assume it is because fewer paper bills and communications are passing through the mail; we know debt is alive and well. Help support the "job cuts" and make sure you are set up for online statements and bill-paying for all your financial services. Don't we as taxpayers pay at least a part of the postal service's salaries, after all?
Since I'm on the bandwagon, I'll go ahead and ask everyone to opt out of credit card offers and junk mailing lists. Imagine how many more jobs might be cut by the postal service and trees saved by this action! Don't worry, you'll still get spam emails.
Here are instructions on how to opt out of these snail-mail spam sources:
- Fill out the form online www.optoutprescreen.com to opt out of all credit offers sent to you in the mail or call 1-888-567-8688.
- To get rid of most other junk mail, write a letter giving your complete name, name variations and mailing address to: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735.
- Call 1-800-407-1088 to Opt-Out from all mailing and telemarketing lists
- Other sources: http://www.dmachoice.org
- Complete information on this is also located at creditinfocenter.com/cards/preventSellLists
If we all make just a few minor changes, it's amazing what an impact it will have on our environment. Don't delay, do it now!!!