I wonder if other countries deal with this issue. I don’t remember it being so crazy when I lived in Colombia; the mailman was not someone you saw every day and when you got something in the mail it was actually worth it. But here (and Canada, too)…

• 8 out of 10 things we get in the mail end up in the trash/recycling bin. Not to mention there’s no recycling program that I’m aware of in the building, so it’s mostly trash these days.
• Charity organizations spend so much printing crap instead of using the money to do other things. You wouldn’t believe the amount of mail I get asking me for donations, and they have to include some kind of cute sticker, notepad or the famous address labels.
• How often do Kohl’s, Lane Bryant, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc think I want to go shopping? I don’t want coupons in the mail every day!
• Grocery stores are the worst. I never look at their stuff, I pick the good prices when I shop. Don’t want paper!
• Companies can’t send just a bill in the mail. They have to put extra paper in the envelopes announcing products I have no interest in.

These are just a few examples, but it’s driving me nuts. In a time where I want to make my life simple, companies / government / organizations are not helping. I know they have to do marketing, but really? So much? So wastefully? Someone has an hilarious post about the current Census. It’s in Spanish, but she really says it like it is. They send you a letter to tell you that you’re going to get a form; then you get the form; then they send you a reminder to fill out the form. What’s next? A thank you card? I certainly hope NOT.

I have tried to be in the no mail list and it doesn’t work. I even tried to put on a sign saying “No Junk Mail” on my mailbox. I think I’m going to sign up for online billing only. I like to keep track of what I pay, but not to the detriment of trees. Or I need a guarantee that all of it is recycled paper, and I seriously doubt it.