Case Study: Junk Mail Parties to Reduce Waste

Junk mail’s impact on the climate: 

Consider the ecological impact of all that junk mail with these facts from the New York University School of Law about junk mail and sustainability.

• 5.6 million tons of catalogs and other direct mail advertisements end up in U.S. landfills annually.
• 44 percent of junk mail is thrown away unopened, but only half that much junk mail is recycled.
• The average American household receives 848 pieces of junk mail, which equals 1.5 trees every year and more than 100 million trees for all U.S. households combined. The equivalent of deforesting all of Rocky Mountain National Park every four months.
  Largely due to deforestation, junk mail manufacturing creates as much greenhouse gas emissions annually as 3.7 million cars.

Objective:
Host a party at a senior living community to help residents reduce the amount of junk mail they receive through the United States Postal Service. The goal is to minimize paper waste, keeping unnecessary mail out of landfills while conserving natural resources and protecting trees. Participants will learn practical steps to opt out of various types of junk mail.