Junk Mail

Paper Recycling

Recycle Shredded Paper in a Clear Bag

If you shred any junk mail to protect personal information, the shredded paper must be put in a clear bag before it can be recycled. Consider shredding only what you absolutely have to, since shredded paper loses its value. Find out more about shredded paper.

Envelope with Window

Glossy Paper and Plastic Windows OK

All paper products, including glossy paper, are recyclable. It is ideal to remove plastic windows from envelopes before recycling them, but it’s OK if you don’t.

credit card

Remove Credit Cards and Address Labels

Remove any plastic credit cards or sheets of address labels and throw them away before recycling the envelope and contents it came with. These will contaminate paper recycling.

NO-water

Keep Paper Dry

If paper products get wet, their fibers become damaged so that they are no longer recyclable. Store them so that they stay dry until they are recycled.

Ways to Reduce

DMA logo

Get Off Mailing Lists

Register with the Direct Marketing Association to remove your name from most mailing lists for five years. This won’t affect companies you’ve purchased from, so use Catalog Choice or the free app PaperKarma to request specific senders to cease mailings.

valpak

Stop Credit Cards & Valpak Coupons

Opt out of prescreened credit card and insurance offers from major credit bureaus online or by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). To stop receiving Valpak coupons, fill out this form.

Reduce the Mail You Receive

Request e-statements and e-bills whenever possible to cut down on the amount of paper mail you receive. If you donate to any charities, ask them to only send you annual donation requests.

Ways to Reuse

Use Envelopes More Than Once

As much as possible, try to use envelopes more than once before disposing of them. You can cover old addresses with labels or cross them out if you need to.