Today, I made two green moves. I signed up to both stop the flow of junk mail to my apartment and have a tree planted each month for a year, thanks to one fabulous website called GreenDimes, which finally arrived in Canada — and no, despite the poor exchange rate, they will not have to change their name to Green 11.4 Cents.
For the annual cost of $36, I got “Sapling” status (how cute is that?), which means my name is removed from direct mailing lists and telemarketers’ files. Then, I got to further select specific catalogues from a drop-down menu to block — I clicked on Abercrombie&Fitch, Victoria’s Secret and L.L. Bean, because I really don’t need to look at clothes that are overpriced, bras that have five layers of padding and plaid shirts that only come in useful at the cottage I don’t own.
Plus, a tree gets planted each month for me in North America, Central America, South America, India, Senegal, and Haiti; I can even specify the percentages of my trees that I want in each of these regions — so you better behave, Haiti! On top of all this, they’re also sending me a “no junk mail” sticker to put on my mailbox (I already have one, but clearly it hasn’t been very effective).
As well, my friend Liz pointed out that I could also go to the Canadian Marketers Association and register for the Do Not Contact service there, too. So I did. And my dear blogmate No Impact Man also had some suggestions on his site back in February, although they’re most helpful for those living in the U.S. Finally, my superintendent has placed a recycling bin by all the mailboxes in my building instead of a garbage bin, so at least we can all toss stuff in there as a last resort.
By signing up for the Do Not Mail service at the CMA, you stop addressed admail. Here is what Canada Post has to say about unaddressed admail in their Q&As (I agree that people should recieve politican’s householders… I wonder when those will go digital?):
I do not want to receive advertisement mail anymore, what can I do?
Customers who do not wish to receive advertisement mail should put a note to this effect on their mailbox if they receive door-to-door delivery. For a community mailbox, group mailbox or postal box, the note should not be placed on the inside or the outside of the door. The note should be placed on the inside lip of the box. When the letter carrier puts the mail into the community mailbox, group mailbox or postal box, the door panel is open and not in view.
I am still getting advertisement mail even though I have a note on my mailbox, why?
As a result of such a note being placed on or inside a mail receptacle at a particular address, Canada Post will no longer deliver the following mail items: free samples, coupons, flyers and newspapers, government mailings, free distribution magazines, catalogues, non-profit and event information. As well, Canada Post will no longer deliver municipal service notices (e.g. schedule of snow removal, changes in garbage pick-up, announcement of town hall meetings). However, since Canada Post is only one of many distributors of unaddressed materials, consumers may continue to receive these materials from other distributors.
The only unaddressed materials that Canada Post will continue to deliver to these customers are as follows: community newspapers, as well as House of Commons, provincial chief electoral officers, municipal electoral offices and Elections Canada mailings.
we signed up too!
YEAHOO! Brill’. I just greendimed too! Thanks for the blog/info/encouragement!
Those greendimes people spammed my blog. Thats a bit ironic. “Against junk mail, but all about spam comments”.
Awesome tip. I signed up my household! Thanks!
GreenDimes is awesome- they will put a stop to the 560 pieces of junk mail we are all on track to receive this year and they are planing trees all over the world. Check them out.
I signed up, too. Thanks for the info!
Very nice information. Thanks for this.
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I can’t seem to find this site? — The link provided isn’t working… are they still an existing company? I hope so
By the way, I’m reading your book. I’m up to April and it’s quite the page turner! Is it wrong to be reading it when I should be studying?
Take care and thanks for all the tips!!
You know, I have to tell you, I truly relish this website and the useful insight. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I finally decided to write a comment on A green double-feature (Day 43)… Green as a Thistle – I just wanna say that you did a sweet job on this. Cheers mate!
I do my best to get rid of my trash conscientiously however it is oftentimes hard to stay motivated when I check out just what some industrialised nations are doing to our world!