How to Get Rid of Junk Mail Once and for All

Snail mail is slowly dying, right? Tell that to the handfuls of junk mail you're probably still pulling out of your mailbox. Even if you've transitioned most of your bills to online payment, chances are you're still receiving no shortage of fliers, promotional materials, and catalogs you don't remember signing up for. Whether you want to reduce waste or just lesson your frustration, there are steps you can take to get rid of junk mail once and for all, according to the Washington Post. Here's how. 

About 63 billion catalogs, postcards, credit card offers, and coupon booklets landed in American's mailboxes last year, the Post reports. That's 62 percent of all U.S. household mail. The typical American receives about 41 pounds of junk mail each year. The Sierra Club estimates 80 million to 100 million trees are cut down each year to print junk mail, while local governments spend $1 billion a year to collect and dispose of it in landfills.

The Association of National Advertisers' DMAchoice.org will allow you stop delivery of catalogs, magazine offers, and other junk mailers from charities, banks, and major brands, the Post reports. You can register online for $4, or by mail for $5, to stop those deliveries for a decade.

By going to OptOutPrescreen.com, you can opt out of mailed credit card and insurance offers for five years. You can also call 888-567-8688 to take advantage of the service.

If you don't want to choose the nuclear option, you can cancel catalogs, offers, and mailers selectively. The nonprofit CatalogChoice.org automatically lets you send an opt-out request to any of the 10,000 businesses and charities it has on file. Just search the list, click, and you're done. It's free of charge.

The app PaperKarma offers a subscription ($3.99 monthly, or $24.99 a year) that automatically identifies companies from a photo of a junk mail item. You can instantly send an opt-out request through the app.

Valpak is a marketing company that sends coupons to more than 41 million homes. Chances are you've received one of their familiar blue envelopes stuffed with ads and offers. If you live in California, you can remove yourself from the company's list by clicking here. Nevada residents can opt out here. If you live in other states, you can complete this opt-out form.

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Just write "REFUSED" across the front of any unwanted junk mail—make sure it's unopened—and drop it in the mailbox. Companies may have to pay a return fee, so this could discourage them from mailing you in future.