Shouldn't junk mail and unsolicited mail through the letterbox be banned?

In the UK you can choose NOT to receive it by opting out using something called the Mailing Preference Service. Then it becomes illegal to be sent any. It works - I don't get any at all.

Direct mail volumes are falling off a cliff anyway as more and more marketing is done online instead - already more DM is sent electronically than as a physical product. The same is true with bank statements and mobile phone bills.

Our postal workers are already striking because the business is changing so rapidly - it's not a mattter of if, but when they will be delivering more parcels than letters in the not too far distant future.

The internet/email and text messaging are saving a fair few trees already!

See article below which shows you just how big a decline in mail volumes there is in the US - which is predicted to drop by 25% by next year, from a peak in 2006.

Take any of the junk mail that has a card postmarked with the company's return address. Get a medium sized box and put something heavy (but < 70lbs) in it. A cut-up old tire works best. Anyway, tape the return card to the box and drop it at your local post office. The company will have to pay over $100.00 for the cost to mail the tire.

Think of the posties before you cancel your junk mail....they get extra pay for delivering it. Just ask the postie for his/her feelings on the matter.

Recycle the stuff. It's easy enough.

It HAS been suggested.

A study, in the US, showed that "bulk" mail, if removed, would drive the cost of "first class" mail up by about 4000% OR the post office would have to close due to costs exceeding income.

yes-they go on about paper waste but the majority of mail through the door is junk

I think I know what your problem is. You get irritated too easily.

Businesses wouldn't do it if it didn't make them money. Money is tax revenue for the government. Tax revenue for the government is all the crazy things you think the government should be. Government needs business.

Couldn't agree more. Unfortunately it helps oil the wheels of commerce, which help oil the wheels of government . . . .

Shame we don't have an open fire any more.

You need to listen to Crazy J.

It would be nice but its not going to happen.