Why aren't environmental activists going after the junk mail industry?

Question

We are drowning in junk mail. If the junk mail industry isn't the world's (or at least the US') biggest contributor to deforestation and waste, it must be pretty close. A few years ago, while doing research on a case, I discovered that junk mail constitutes about FORTY PERCENT of American household waste; and the number must have gone up since then. Apart from the trees that are killed for this nonsense, think about all the energy expended in transporting the garbage, distributing it, then disposing of it.

The junk mail industry is a MAJOR contributor to deforestation, pollution, and energy waste. So why are activists so indifferent towards it? Contrary to popular opinion, the First Amendment doesn't go so far as to trump all conflicting interests. Yet, chop an acre of trees for construction timber, and you are an enemy of the environment. Waste a truckload of paper on stupid fliers that no one wants -- we act like it isn't happening.

Answer 1

Very interesting question! I understand the senders point of view--they work on a percentage basis, IE: you mail out 3 million pieces and you get a return on a few %. Remember the old Circus attidge "a fool is born every minute"!

The activist's don't get the press coverage they want fighting a battle against silent industry. They get the coverage when the loggers beat the sh#t out of some tree hugger or some anti-abortionist blows up a clinic! You must remember--the activists need money to exhist and they need press to get contributions!! There is always some fool out there who will send money to help the "little" guy, but is too "educated" to realize their money is going to make a few wealthy con men to live in luxury Look at all the preachers and Jesse and Al. The enviromentalists have taken lessons from them!! USMC 60-68

Answer 2

College mail has also become a major contributor to pollution. We have decided no way to go to the colleges that send lots of mail about the college. Maybe a postcard that is returnable so that you could check off if you want more info, it might save the college some $ too. If I want to learn more about a college, I use the internet.
I do agree that we get too much junk mail, especially when most of the info can be accessed on the "net." I guess sometimes mail is better for advertising, because it is more "in your face." I don't think junk mail has influenced me to buy something or go somewhere, it is usually because someone I know has recommended I try something out because they liked it, and someone they know recommended it to them.
But, if there were no junk mail, think how many unemployed mail carriers there would be. Maybe a gradual reduction of junk mail so the USPS would slow hiring.

Answer 3

You make a very good point. If only I could get rid of half of the crap that shows up in my mail, I would be happy. In the past, they have been more vigorous in their pleadings for more recycling of paper waste. But there are major problems with that. One is that paper fiber is organic, and as such can only be recycled a finite amount of times before it breaks down to a point that it is useless and becomes nothing more than industrial sludge. The problem then becomes what to do with that. Burning is out of the question, land fill usage is limited, so the problem remains.
The other problem is more economic. It actually takes more energy to recycle paper than it does to use raw materials. Recycled paper needs the extra step that's called de-inking (read bleaching) before it can be processed into reusable formats, to be sure, raw materials go through the same process, the difference is that raw materials only need this once. Quality control goes all to crap when you have to subject the same basic material to repeated applications of the same process, which leads to the afore mentioned obstacle. This is why the producers have turned to forestation management, in that they have, over time, bought up large tracts of land to be used exclusively forest harvest purposes.
They don't recycle paper so much as they recycle the raw materials, and the land upon which it is grown. At the present time, this seems to be the most viable solution for all parties invloved.

Answer 4

Many are: I am. It is not as a contentious an issue as other issues so people individually just tend to take action rather than debate it.

To combat Junk mail in the UK. Stop junk mail by registering with the mail preference service http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/...

Stop the Post office from sending unaddressed mail/adverts to you . These are those annoying things sent by the GPO they can send you 3 items a day even if you have registered on Mail Preference Service. You need to stop this too by sending your name and address to:
Freepost RRBT-ZBXB-TTTS
Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Outs
Kingsmead House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD
OX1 1RX

or email: [e-mail]

Refuse telephone directories (paper copy) find numbers online.

Save money too. Don't buy magazines. Use your local library, find info online or buy second hand books from car boot sales then pass them on so they are reused.

Opt for email catalogues/travel brochures rather than paper ones.

Make notes on the computer when studying. Use a chalk board for family messages. Send emails rather than writing letters. Keep copies of letters on disc. Don't print out. Much easier to store and retrieve that way too. Same for study notes.

Use waste paper as many times as you can before it goes in the compost. Use scraps for notes, to make paper bricks, line waste bins, make plant pots with etc.

Most importantly try not to use Paper in the first place.

The biggest thing you can do is stop taking a daily newspaper. Read online or watch the news/listen to radio.

Use your own cotton or hemp bags for shopping.

Send e-cards and spend the money you've saved on an extra gift that the person will really use. I usually buy a small bottle of essential oil most people like citronella in summer.

The real enviromental issue is the forests that are planted to meet our paper/construction needs . Native timbers are very expensive, it takes a long time to grow. So cash crops of trees are grown. This is a whole new area of discussion but in essence although these 'cash crop' trees grow quickly the resulting 'forests' are monocultures so they don't support wildlife etc.

Answer 5

This is a strange type of question, one that the authorities appear to not want to be involved in. The answer I always get from governmental officials is that companies have the right! The post office refuses to be involved in it: yet, we individuals subsidize (through taxes and higher postage rates) the "rights" of companies to send us junk.
Government types need to learn basic economics: Neither the government (at any level) nor corporations (companies of any size) own ONE SINGLE THING: it is all owned by INDIVIDUALS. Companies and the govenment take what they want from people. This means that the people, not the government nor the corporations, should be making the decisions.
In the meantime, contact these companies, one by one, by being put on the "do-not-mail" lists, refusing the mail, and spreading the word to other people to do the same. Sooner or later, even the Neanderthals running the government/corporations will take notice.
What is really amazing is, that govenment officials, postal officials and even these companies have all told me that they use "smart" advertising, meaning they send these ads to people who supposedly have an interest in their products!
And, hey, there is a better way: in fact, 2 better ways to advertise: telephones and e-mail! Fortunately for consumers, the government does allow us to block those two.

Answer 6

The junk mail industry is what's keeping the USPS in business. They get a discounted bulk rate for mailing junk and WE have pay to get rid if it. The government isn't going to do anything to upset their biggest customers.

I feel the junk mail should cost more to mail. The extra money they collect on the extra postage could be used to support recycling.

Answer 7

Seriously, I JUST had that thought last night when I looked in my mailbox and it was FILLED with useless papers and coupons I will never use. I just recycle what I get. Now though I'm going to put my name on those "Do Not Mail" lists (thanks for that info!) and hopefully enough people will do that so one day those companies will realize that they are not only wasting paper and harming our environment but also wasting their time and money!

Answer 8

You're right, but until there is an alternative form of marketing they are going to continue sending out junk mail. Don't fret over what you can't change. Besides you DO recycle them, don't YOU?

Answer 9

They are, my dear.

www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist

This site will put your name on a "do not mail" list, which its members must cross-reference before sending you a solicitation.

www.optoutprescreen.com

The Consumer Credit Reporting Industry will remove your name from the mailing lists that credit card companies use to send out offers.

Answer 10

Activists have gone after them for years. One of the problems is they have a powerful lobby in Congress. They have done "voluntary" programs to reduce waste and tried to increase the use of recycled materials in their flyers. Only at their convinience though.

So it's more a problem of resource allocation. The environmentalists can't focus enough resources on the problem to overcome the financial backing of the industry. The only way to overcome it would be to use more resources to wipe it out and the money is going esewhere.