Junk Mail Superhero

We're sick and tired of junk mail and registered on one "do not mail" list but it's hard to tell if it actually works.

One person took matters into his own hands and unfortunately he ran up against the Man.

From the LA Times...

"Mailman Steve" -- a kindly 58-year-old who toiled along a route in a rapidly growing neighborhood in NC -- was given probation, fined $3,000 and ordered to do 500 hours of community service for squirreling away at least seven years' worth of undelivered junk mail, which he had stacked in his garage and buried in his yard.

According to his attorney, Padgett felt overwhelmed by the torrents of "direct advertising mail" he was obligated to deliver as he contended with heart problems and diabetes.

The U.S. Postal Service did not receive a single complaint from Padgett's customers about missing mail during the years he withheld pizza circulars, oil change discount notices and Chinese menus. The Postal Service notified hundreds of residents, but only one responded. That customer wrote not to condemn Padgett but to honor him.

Readers who followed Padgett's travails in the pages of the Raleigh News & Observer responded on behalf of a grateful citizenry. They thanked him for delivering his customers from unwanted mail. "That 'Mailman Steve' should get a commendation," said one of hundreds of people who contacted local news media to praise Padgett. "Steve Padgett for President!" another reader wrote. Others offered to help cover Padgett's legal fees, to nominate him for awards and to ask that he deliver mail in their neighborhoods, the paper reported.

A few junk mail facts from Newdream.org...

• 100 million trees are chopped, processed, glossed and stuffed into US mailboxes every year.
• The production and disposal of direct mail consumes more energy than 3 million cars.
• In 2005, 5.8 million tons of catalogs and other direct mailings ended up in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream – enough to fill over 450,000 garbage trucks.
• One study says Americans throw away 44% of bulk mail unopened

If you want to try to reduce your junk mail try one of the opt out services below listed on Inhabitat.com

• Catalog Choice is a free website that allows you to select catalogs by name to eliminate some while still keeping the ones you want.
• Opt Out Prescreen does the same for credit card offers.
• DMA Choice is a service provided by the Direct Marketing Association, the people sending you half of your junk in the first place. Not only can you stop mail in your name, but you can opt out of any ‘Current Resident’ mail to your address with one simple click.
• You can get rid of ValPak mailings directly on their website.
• 41 Pounds is a service that, for a fee, claims to cut your junk mail by up to 95% for 5 years, including all names at your address. $15 of the $41 enrollment fee goes directly to the non-profit of your choice.

Good luck.

Update: In the comments section, William points to an online petition to stop junk mail from the Do Not Mail Coalition. So far over 75,000 people have signed the petition. Click here to add your name or use the widget on this page to sign the petition. (thx for the tip William)