Junk mail can usually go in paper recycling after you remove samples, plastic cards, and other non-paper inserts. Shred only pages that expose information you would not want someone else to see.
You can also cut future mail at the source. The right opt-out depends on whether the sender is a marketer, a credit bureau, or an organization you already support.
Sort the Mail Before You Recycle It
Set aside anything containing account numbers, medical details, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive information. Destroy those pages securely; recycle the shreds only if your local program accepts them.
Catalogs, flyers, postcards, and ordinary envelopes are commonly accepted with mixed paper. Remove merchandise samples, CDs, plastic cards, magnets, and bulky non-paper pieces.
Some programs accept envelope windows and glossy paper, while others set different rules. Check your local recycling list before filling the bin.
Bagged shredded paper can jam sorting equipment or scatter at a facility. Follow the local instructions for containment, a drop-off event, or trash.
Stop Marketing Mail by Sender Type
For broad commercial mail, the FTC directs consumers to DMAchoice. Its registration page currently lists $8 online or $9 by mail for 10 years.
DMAchoice can reduce most national promotional mail, but it will not stop every mailing. Local businesses, political mail, and organizations outside the program may continue.
For prescreened credit and insurance offers, use OptOutPrescreen. The online or phone option lasts five years. Permanent opt-out requires printing, signing, and mailing a form.
These official programs may ask for personal information to match your record. Enter it only on the official site, not in an unofficial opt-out form or this website.
If a charity, retailer, or catalog company already knows you, contact it directly. Ask it to suppress your name and avoid sharing it with other marketers.
Handle Mail for Someone Else Separately
Do not use marketing opt-outs to manage mail addressed to a former resident. Leave the item unopened and write “Not at this address” or a similar endorsement.
Place the endorsed piece back in the mail. If you opened it by mistake, USPS guidance says to write “Opened by Mistake” and add your signature.
Mail with a shared address still belongs to the named recipient. Do not shred or discard another person’s checks, government notices, or account mail.
See our guide to mail that is not yours for the return steps.
Make the Next Batch Easier
Put a small sorting tray near the door. Recycle ordinary paper, set sensitive pages aside for shredding, and remove unwanted samples before they disappear into a pile.
Use a basic shredder for sensitive sheets only. Shredding every envelope wastes time and produces material that some recycling programs cannot handle.
If your program refuses shredded paper, ask whether it offers a secure shredding event. Otherwise, place the shreds in the trash using the containment method your local authority recommends.
Our guide to disposing of shredded paper covers those choices in more detail.