This is the time of year that companies start hounding people with piles of catalogs, and I’ve definitely seen an uptick. Catalog Choice makes it easy to be removed from mailing lists. For a $20 donation you can sign up to be removed from all traded mailing lists, or you can look up individual catalogs and request to be removed from their mailing lists yourself for free. Just make sure to keep the catalogs you receive so you can enter your customer number and the source code from the labels. It can take up to 90 days for the request to take effect, but if you’re still getting mail from them after that time, Catalog Choice helps you file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

.

What about all that other junk mail? There are a lot of sources to help you out (check out Eco-Cycle, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, or Practically Green for a full list), but here are a few highlights:

• Credit card offers – OptOutPrescreen is the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry site. Sign up with the three credit bureaus to stop receiving credit card offers.
• Grocery circulars – Valassis is the origin of lots of grocery circulars and RedPlum coupons. Select “Consumer,” then “I would like to be removed from your mailing list.”
• Valpak coupons – Cox Target is the company that sends out ValPak coupons.
• Yellow pages – Submit your zip code to find yellow pages publishers in your area.

One year ago: Steam Radiators? Here’s How to Improve Your Boiler’s Efficiency.