Canceling Catalogs

In September, I had an idea. It all began when I would walk passed a garbage can and see 100ds of catalogs thrown out, unread and certainly unwanted. So I found away to stop it. This is what I did! First I set up a box and put it in my mail room accompanied by a sign. My plan was to collect all my neighbors unwanted catalogs and then send them in to the company with a note asking them to stop sending that catalog to the person in question. Slowly but surely more and more neighbors and friends started contributing to this project and now I get around 100 a day! That's about 5 hours of community service a week! My point is that this project (although I won't lie to you takes time and commitment) is a great way to help out and do your job to save our earth. Below are instructions on how you can make a difference by canceling catalogs.

Canceling Catalogs For Dummies
Catalog canceling is a simple but highly important skill to know how to do. If you do it right you can save forests! Hardly anybody does it so it is even more essential to start spreading the news.
Instructions:
1. Make a poster! Post it up in your mailroom! Explain clearly about the project and what you will do with the catalogs. Say that you will collect and then cancel all your neighbors' unwanted catalogs.
2. Put a box under the sign. Write in legible writing "All Unwanted Catalogs go here!"
3. Start telling people in your building to read the poster and to donate catalogs and wait.
4. Check the box daily, rip off the backs of the catalogs, recycle the rest of it, and store the backs in a filing cabinet. Sort them alphabetically. If there are any duplicates, which I'm sure there will be, paperclip them together.
5. After, 5 days take the catalog with the most duplicates and cut out the white box with the subscribers address off the back page, just so it fits in the envelope. Write or type a small note to tell the company to cancel them. One idea of a note is:
To whom it may concern,
I am participating in a paper-saving project in our building in which we cancel unwanted and/or unread catalogs. We would appreciate very much if you could mark our accounts both "Do Not Mail." And "Do Not Rent." The back(s) of the catalog(s) are here in case you need them.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, ___________

6. Cut out the white box with the subscribers address on the back page and then address the catalog according to address on the back. Stamp it and put it in the mail.
7. Every day try to address and mail at least 10 catalogs. In this way in a matter of weeks you will have saved many trees. You also could call the toll free number on the back of the catalogs, (but it takes longer.)
8. Tell everyone you can about this project. A few people can make a lot of difference.
Thank you so much for being a part of this project. You can rest assured that your time and your energy are going to a noble cause.

To ensure your name and address is removed from most national mailing lists, write your name and address below. Be sure to include any variations on your name that you might have noticed. (With or without an initial, middle name, nickname, etc.)

Or, a fast way is to go to catalogchoice.org and cancel your catalogs completely online!

Don't forget,
"Be Smart,
Be Green"