Go Paperless
Overview
This week, we’ll look at ways to reduce the amount of paper coming into our homes by stopping unwanted junk mail and looking at ways to receive and store important documents electronically.
Activities & Challenges
ACTIVITIES
- KIDS: For one week, collect all unsolicited mail (junk mail, credit card offers, catalogs, fliers) in a bag, box or basket. At the end of the week, count how many individual mail pieces your house has received and then multiply that number by 52. This will give you an approximate count of the number of how much junk mail your family receives each year. As a bonus, multiply your number by the approximate number of households in our neighborhood (800).
- Learn how you can cut down on junk mail. Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition has a great article on the topic.
- Make a list of junk mail you receive and post it somewhere visible. Each time you or a family member succeeds in stopping the flow of mail from that company or organization, cross it off the list. Plan a fun family activity to celebrate when the entire list is completed.
Use our Go Paperless Activities Form to share what you did.
CHALLENGES
- Switch to e-statements with at least one of the following institutions: bank, credit card company or utility.
- Opt out of credit card solicitations by calling 1-888-567-8688 (credit bureaus such as Equifax or Experian, etc. are the primary source of unsolicited credit card offers).
- Call or email 2 or more catalog companies and ask to be removed from their mailing list (you may need to provide specific customer information from a recent catalog). Alternatively, you can stop most catalog junk mail for free by visiting CatalogChoice.org.
Use our Go Paperless Challenges Form to share what you did.
Other Actions You Can Take
- Make preventative junk mail maintenance part of your normal routine! Be mindful that the following activities can increase the amount of junk mail you receive:
- Entering sweepstakes or contests
- Filling out warranty cards
- Registering at meetings or conferences
- Having your address listed in a publication
- Ordering from a catalog
- Signing up for a service (car insurance, health care, etc.)
- Donating to charity organizations (so ask to opt out of their mailings)
- Having a credit card
- Stop getting unwanted telemarketing calls by signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry.
- Subscribe to your newspaper’s online edition and ditch the print edition.
- Let’s be honest, sometimes we do have to print something out. When you do, choose double-sided if your printer supports it. If not, use the back as scratch paper before you recycle.