Dear Eco-Monkey >> I really appreciate all you are doing to create a Zero Waste culture. I just moved to a new home (that was rented out for decades) and I’m receiving tons of junk mail, mostly for other people who used to live here. Any suggestions on how to stop this mail?

Thanks, The New Occupant

Dear New Occupant >> Congratulations on your new home! Moving is stressful enough — your mailbox deserves a fresh start too.

Junk mail isn’t just annoying (especially when it’s not even for you) — it’s incredibly wasteful. More than 100 million trees are cut down each year to produce all those credit card offers and catalogs you didn’t ask for. Luckily, I have plenty of tips for cutting it down:

1. Start by putting your name and the name(s) of anyone else who lives in your house on the mailbox, and let your mail carrier or local post office know you’re the only authorized recipients. That should help stop mail for people who no longer live there.

2. Next, head to dmachoice.org, where you can pay $6 to remove yourself from marketing and advertising lists for 10 years.

3. Stop credit card and insurance solicitations by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visiting optoutprescreen.com. You can choose to opt out for five years—or forever.

4. Say no to the Yellow Pages (if they still show up on your doorstep) at yellowpagesoptout.com.

5. Reduce charity mailings by asking your favorite nonprofits to send just one mailing per year, or go paperless altogether.

6. Remember, you can refuse mail addressed to “Resident,” “Current Resident” or “Current Occupant,” as well as anything marked “return service,” “forwarding service,” “address service” or “change service requested.” Just write “Refused — Return to Sender” on the envelope and pop it back in the mailbox (but don’t open it first).

7. You can also cut off direct marketing lists at catalogchoice.org, valpak.com and retailmenot.com.

8. After taking these steps, if any catalogs or ads keep sneaking through, go straight to the source: Call the company’s 1-800 number and ask to be removed from their mailing list.

Each year, nearly 130 billion pieces of junk mail are delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Even though most of it is recyclable (open first and remove plastic cards or samples), prevention is better than recycling. Stopping junk mail is a simple way to protect trees, reduce waste, and clear a little mental clutter.

After all, junk mail is one “subscription” you didn’t sign up for.

Find more tips at ecocycle.org.

— Eco-Monkey

Got Zero Waste questions? We have answers! Contact recycle@ecocycle.org or call Eco-Cycle at 303-444-6634.