Junkmail

Junk Mail - time to opt out!

Fed up with circulars, advertising and speculative marketing clogging up your letter box? Not only is junk mail annoying for many people, the amount of unnecessary paper used is an environmental disaster.

It’s estimated that around 550,000 tonnes of paper - equivalent to 9.35 million trees - is used to produce the 17.5 billion pieces of junk mail sent out every year. Each household receives on average 650 pieces of junk mail each a year. Don’t forget to recycle the mail you do receive.

 

How can I stop addressed junk mail?

There are a number of ways you can stop addressed junk mail:

 

Mail preference service opt out

By giving your name and full address to The Mailing Preference Service they can remove your name from up to 95% of Direct Mail lists. You will still receive mail from companies that you specifically have dealings with e.g. insurance companies. Opt out here  |.

 

Electoral roll opt out

When filling out your annual electoral registration form, opt out of the ‘edited electoral register’. Tick the box on your form to ensure that your details appear on the full register only. The edited register can be viewed by any person or business and may be used for the addressing of junk mail. 

 

Return mail to sender as unwanted mail

Contact the sender. Under the Data Protection Act 1998, if you ask to be removed from an organisation’s mailing lists, they are legally obliged to do so.

Write on the letter ‘Return to sender, unwanted mail’ and put it back in the post. There is no need for a stamp.

 

How can I stop unaddressed mail?

There are also number of ways you can stop unaddressed junk mail:

 

Royal Mail door to door opt out

Opt out of Royal Mail’s door-to-door service. Find out more here|.

 

Put up a No Junk Mail sticker

Put a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letter box or front window.

 

Direct Marketing Association opt out

Register with the DMA’s ‘Your Choice’ scheme. Find out more here  |.

 

Telephone directory opt out

Opt out of telephone directory deliveries by contacting the customer services departments at Yell, Thomson and BT.

 

Junk mail facts

• In 2005 only 28 per cent of junk mail was recycled according to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
• 17.5 billion pieces of junk mail are produced each year in the UK
• Each household receives on average 650 pieces of junk mail each a year
• Only 15 per cent of households are registered with the Mail Preference Service
• Around 550,000 tonnes of paper - equivalent to 9.35 million trees - is used to produce the 17.5 billion pieces of junk mail sent out annually
   

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