Halting junk mail saves resources.

Byline: Recycling by The Register-Guard

Waste prevention is the avoidance of the unnecessary use of materials, in order to preserve our natural resources for future generations. As stewards of the world, it is our responsibility to think about the impacts our choices have on the world's resources.

According to the public broadcasting show `Affluenza,' the average North American citizen consumes five times as much as an average Mexican citizen, 10 times as much as an average Chinese citizen and 30 times as much as the average citizen of India.

Lane County Waste Management's Less Is Best waste prevention campaign is a reminder that we can live without the wasteful misuse of our natural resources. Last month, we touched on some tips to reduce waste while traveling. This month, Less Is Best will hit home for some of you.

The new phase of the Less Is Best campaign targets a common nuisance, junk mail. Junk mail is a cheap and easy way for organizations to advertise their product or service. However, here are some facts about junk mail that might be of interest to you.

44 percent of all junk mail is discarded, unopened.

Approximately 40 percent of the solid mass that makes up our landfills is paper and paperboard.

100 million trees are ground up annually to produce junk mail.

Each American receives an average of 560 pieces of junk mail each year.

According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, of the annual 5.56 million tons of junk mail shipped, we recycle only 1.23 million tons (22 percent) and landfill or litter 4.33 million tons. That's nearly 32 pounds of paper and plastic going into the garbage for every woman, man and child in America.

According to the New Dream Action Network, if just 1,000 of us cut our junk mail in half, we can save 170 trees, nearly 46,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and 70,000 gallons of water annually.

If you'd like to start reducing your junk mail, get your hands on the new Less Is Best brochure, "Reduce Your Junk Mail," at any Lane County Transfer Station, or call 682-4339 to request one.

Here are some other things you can do:

Product warranty cards that come with many appliances, telecommunications devices and office equipment are often used to collect personal information that is then sold to direct marketers. The manufacturer should honor the warranty even if you don't fill out and return the registration or warranty card. Just be sure to save your sales receipt.

When you make a donation, order a product or service, or subscribe to a publication, request that your name not be sold, rented or shared.

Sweepstakes and contests that require your name and address on an entry form are usually fishing expeditions for names to add to direct mail lists. Avoid the contests if you don't want the mail.

To find out more about reducing junk mail or other forms of garbage in your life, check out our waste prevention tips on our Web site at www.lanecounty.org/PW_WMD_Recycle/lessisbest.htm.

This column is provided by Lane County Recycling.