To round out our series on ways of getting organized while helping the environment at the same time, this week's article focuses on ideas for stemming the flow of junk mail and cutting back on unread magazines and newspapers.

De-junking your mailbox
Junk mail is more than just advertising and offers for products or services you're not interested in; it can also be credit card applications, solicitations from charities, unwanted newsletters, and catalogs from companies don't buy from. Though there's not one single way of making all junk mail disappear, a few simple steps can help limit the amount you receive.

First, request that the Mail Preference Service, the mailing list brokerage division of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), remove your name and address from the lists they sell to advertisers and charities. This won't prevent mail from companies that already have you on their address lists, but it will stop your name from being shared with others in the future. For information on how to get your name and address removed from the DMA's lists, visit their Web site (see the Related Links section on the right side of this page).

To cut down on the number of credit card offers you receive, call the Credit Reporting Industry Pre-Screening Opt Out Number at (888) 567-8688. If you own a home and have a mortgage, ask your mortgage broker not to share your name or information with others.

You can also prevent an influx of unwanted mail by being extra vigilant about who you disclose your address to. For example, avoid filling out warranty cards for new products you buy; any warranty a company offers will be valid whether or not you send in this card, as long as you have your original receipt and the warranty information. Also, when registering with Web sites or placing online orders, look for a checkbox that allows you to opt out of receiving mail or offers from other companies.

Stopping solicitations
Charitable solicitations can be harder to deal with than other types of junk mail; because many non-profits are working with limited fundraising budgets, sharing and renting address lists with other organizations is fairly standard practice.

Start by asking the charities you do give to not to share your address with others and to limit the appeals they send you; most organizations will comply with requests like these, as it's in their interest to keep their donors happy.

If you receive unwanted solicitations from other groups, return them unopened (if they're sent First class or Bulk rate marked with "Return postage guaranteed" or "Address service requested") and write "Return to sender--Remove from mailing list and do not sell or trade name or address" on the envelope.

Dealing with catalogs, magazines, and newspapers
Catalogs can be entertaining and useful to a degree, but once they start flooding your mailbox and piling up in your home, it's time to rein them in. To request to be removed from a catalog mailing list (and/or to request that the company not share your information with others), call the 800 number on the catalog; have the catalog in front of you so you can give the customer service rep you speak to the exact info that appears on your address label.

Magazines and newspapers can be harder to give up, since they're informative, interesting, and, of course, not free. Wanting to learn more, read widely, and keep up on the latest news are all great goals; however, if you find yourself surrounded by months' worth of magazines or more than a week's worth of newspapers, it's probably time to cut back.

Consider canceling any magazines or newspapers you don't have time to read on a regular basis, especially if they're available elsewhere (at work, in the library, or online). You can often get a refund on the unused portion of a magazine or pre-paid newspaper subscription, which means you can both save money and reduce clutter build-up in your reading pile.

Keep at it
Reducing the amount of mail that comes in takes time and a bit of effort, and you may not see a noticeable difference for a few weeks. However, by taking control of who gets your address, what sort of mail you'll accept, and how many periodicals you allow in the door, you'll help conserve natural resources while you help keep your space clear and organized.