Opt-Out! Freedom From Junk Mail and Phone Calls

* The pulp and paper industry is the single largest consumer of water used in industrial activities in developed countries, and it's the third-largest industrial greenhouse gas emitter (after the chemical and steel industries).

* More than 62 billion pieces (4 million tons) of junk mail are produced each year.

* $320 million of local taxes are used to dispose of junk mail each year. California's state and local governments spend $500,000 a year collecting and disposing of AOL's direct mail disks alone.

* Lists of names and addresses used in bulk mailings reside in mass data-collection networks. Your name is typically worth 3 to 20 cents each time it is sold.

* By reducing your junk mail for 5 years, you'll conserve 1.7 trees and 700 gallons of water, and prevent 460 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere - and you'll gain about 350 hours of free time!

* By stopping credit card offers and other junk mail and calls, you'll help protect your identity from theft and fraud.

The address to stop junk phone calls:

Telephone Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.

Opt-Out when filling in forms or applications.
Let the organization know NOT to sell, rent or trade your information to third parties, check the "opt-out" box (I've even written it across the bottom of the form if there's no box to check).

DMA's Mail Preference Service (MPS) is the Official Mail Preference Service for the Catalog and Direct Marketing community supported by the United States Postal Service.

In the U.S.A.:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.

In Canada:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association of Canada
1 Concord Gate, Suite 607
Don Mills, Ontario
M3C 3N6

In the U.K.:
Mail Preference Service
1 Leeward House Plantation Wharf
London SW113TY
England

Donate anonymously.
Donate anonymously online at Network For Good.org to avoid getting all those calendars, address labels and cards, while still supporting their cause.

Watch those warranty cards!
This is one of the biggest tools used by companies to build their mailing lists. You don't need to return the card most of the time, but if you do, leave the "lifestyle" section blank, giving them only your name and address. DO NOT put your phone number down, either!

Tell them when ordering by phone.
Make your preferences known to the operator taking the call that you do not wish to have your information sold, traded or rented to third parties.

Recycle what you can.
Some stuff is still going to make it through your fortress of anti-junk, so recycle what you can AFTER running it through a shredder. If you're not sure about your local recycling program, go to Earth911.org and check out programs by entering your zip code.

Like Your Milk With Your Cookies?

When you browse the Internet, short text strings or "cookies" are sent by the web server you're surfing, and stored in your browser. This can allow the company to keep track of things you've looked at or purchased. Often, this information is only used to suggest relevant products or services according to your previous choices. The information could also be used for more "black hat" purposes, so some people choose to block cookies from their computer.

Opt out of online advertising's cookies by visiting Network Advertising Initiative's useful tool that will give you the option of opting out of the major advertising agency's cookies.

Check it out!

This Lens Constructed By A Bonafide Giant Squid! Look For The Giant Squid Badge of Honor- Your Assurance Of Quality On Squidoo

Click here to start building your own lenses on Squidoo!