Earth Friendly Living Tips

Last week we learned about how to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic bags.Thanks Sarah!

This week let's think about paper- how much gets thrown away, and how many trees it takes to make all that paper we use.

One of the biggest wastes of paper is junk mail!
I personally shred and compost my junk mail, but according to ForestEthics, 44% of that mail is thrown away unopened. Here are some more facts about Junk Mail delivered annually in the US:

• 100 billion pieces
• 800+ pieces per household
  
• 1/3 of all the mail delivered in the world
• 6.5 million tons of paper
  
• To produce the paper- over 100 million trees, and more greenhouse-gas than 3.7 million cars produce

Help Stop Junk and join the 'Do Not Mail' Campaign
From the makers of 'Do Not Call', we now have 'Do Not Mail'! (From the Gristmill 3/11/08) Sign the petition to help get a 'Do Not Mail Registry' or use their opt-out tool for now.

Nineteen billion catalogs are mailed in the United States each year!
There is also an online service called Catalog Choice developed by the National Wildlife Federation, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Ecology Center. Also see the article
Deforest Your Mailbox By Eric Wilson, Published: NY Times- October 18, 2007.