How to cut your catalog waste

You can reduce waste and pollution, and free some space in your mailbox, with a minimum of effort.

How to stop or limit catalog mailings

To remove your name from most national catalog and other direct mailing lists:

• Sign up with Catalog Choice at catalogchoice.org, or

• Register with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service (MPS) for a $1 fee. Fill out the form online at www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html. Or send a written request, with your name as it appears on all catalog labels, to:

Mail Preference Service
c/o The DMA
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.


• The MPS remains in effect for five years, or until you place an order or request a catalog. Companies that subscribe to the MPS typically check their mailing lists against it a few times a year, so it may take a few months to see results. For more information, call the DMA at (212) 768-7277, or visit the group's web site.
• To continue receiving mailings from certain companies, notify them directly (through their customer service department). Ask them to put in your account record that your name is not to be shared with other marketers. If you get catalogs you don't want, ask those companies to remove you from their databases. A short telephone call will help curb the proliferation of unwanted catalogs.

Eliminate duplicate and undeliverable mailings

If you receive multiple mailings for the same household, call and ask the company to delete the extra listing. If you move, fill out the Postal Service's National Change of Address form so that mailers don't keep sending catalogs to your old address.

Reduce the frequency of mailings you receive

Many companies will honor consumers' requests to receive catalogs less frequently. The catalog's customer service or order department can tell you what options are available. Some catalogs may even allow you to switch from paper catalogs to e-mail notifications and product promotions, with links to the company's Web site.

Ask catalogers to use recycled paper

Next time you place an order, ask if the catalog is printed on recycled paper. If it's not, tell the company that this is important to you as a customer, and ask them to make the switch. (Our Paper Calculator can help.) Support catalog companies that use recycled paper and have demonstrated a commitment to reduce their overall impact on the environment.

Recycle catalogs

To find out more about recycling programs in your community, call your city government or 1 (800) CLEANUP, or visit www.cleanup.org. If your town does not yet recycle catalogs and other paper products, encourage municipal leaders to start.