Junk Mail
We all get a maddening amount of junk mail every week. The average American receives over 30 pounds of junk mail every year. You can limit the amount of unwanted junk mail you receive with a couple simple steps.
- Register with the Direct Marketing Association
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is a national trade association for companies that send direct mail. Simply register at their website thedma.org to remove your name from those catalogs, magazines and mail offers that you do not want to receive. If you have previously ordered from a company’s catalog or shopped at one of their stores, they are able to continue sending you offers. If you no longer want to receive this kind of mail, contact those companies directly and ask them to remove your name from their list. - Credit Offers
How many times each week do you receive credit offers in the mail? You can stop that from happening. The nation’s major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion) offer a website and a toll-free number to remove your name from pre-approved credit card offers.
Food Waste
- Compost yard waste and food scraps at home. This waste accounts for nearly 25% of the waste that goes to landfill. You can make your own compost beds at home or purchase a compost container for your yard.
- For more information on composting, visit the composting section of our website.
Simplify the Clean
- You can reduce your family’s exposure to harmful chemicals at home, and protect the environment by purchasing fewer household cleaning products, and choosing less hazardous products.
- Use a multi-purpose cleaner, rather than buying multiple specialty cleaners. No more clutter of cleaners under your bathroom sink.
- Use single-ingredient products that can serve several functions, such as baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice and salt.
- Choose more natural products that are plant based, made from materials such as citrus, seeds, vegetables, herbs, or pine oils.
- Choose water based glues, adhesives and paints for projects around the house. They are easier to clean up, and so require less cleaning products to get them cleaned up.
- Make your own home-made cleaners. Using inexpensive ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap, you can make your own products at home. You’ll spend less money over time than you would in buying multiple bottles of pre-mixed cleaners. You’ll reduce your family’s exposure to hazardous chemicals in cleaners. And you can use the same container over and over again when you make a new batch of cleaner. For more information on how you can make your own cleaners, check out our Green Cleaner recipes.