I try to keep it simple, and for me that means keeping the clutter down. Whenever possible I opt-out of paper bills and receive notices via email. I make payments electronically in order to minimize the number of stamps I have to lick. I send my tenants directly to the bank to post their payments and check their timeliness from the comfort of my nearest web browser.

But I’m still getting a mailbox full of junk – mainly due to a daily avalanche of catalogs. Big box retailers. Pet shops. Travel agents. Watches. Cigars (I’m a non-smoker). Wedding supplies (I’m already married). I get it all. The photo shows the haul of stuff that I threw out today.

This is a) a pain, b) dangerous, cause it makes it easier to lose something important like a bill or a check, and c) shamefully wasteful.

But there may be something that consumers can do.  The vast majority of this stuff is sent out by a single outfit, the Direct Marketing Association. If you go to their website you can opt out – either online or via mail. The online option requires that you submit a credit card.

I don’t yet know if this works – I just tried it today. According to their website it takes up to sixty days for your new preference to be registered. I’ll post a follow-up in two months time to see if my situation has improved.

Addendum, 6 August::  EA from New Hampshire points out in the comments that Catalog Choice is another option for shutting off the flow of unsolicited mail.  The DMA is the industry advocay group, whereas Catalog Choice is a non-profit environmental organization.  You can sign up on their website and customize delivery options. 

Any more bright ideas out there?