Herefordshire Council's trading standards and waste management services are jointly running a campaign to get residents to jilt their junk mail and make space for the post that really puts a spring in their step.
The campaign, being run as part of Mission Impossible, encourages residents to take action by following some simple steps to stop junk mail. And a special advice pack has been developed in a bid to help households stamp out unwanted post.
The pack, which will include postcards to register with the Mailing Preference Service and the Royal Mail Door to Door Opt Out service, a 'no junk mail' letterbox sticker and two envelope re-use stickers, is free to all households in the county. Alternatively, to further cut down on waste, residents can access all of the information online at http://www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk/
Each year 550,000 tonnes of junk mail is generated in country and the average UK household receives 224 pieces of junk mail. 50million items of junk mail are also sent to the deceased in the UK.
Herefordshire Council's trading standards officers recommend that households stop junk mail, as most scams, including prize draws and clairvoyant scams, are conducted through unsolicited mail. To report scams being operated through junk mail, residents should call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
Andy Tector, Herefordshire Council's head of environmental health and trading standards, said: "The Jilt the Junk Mail pack provides people with the basic knowledge to start shrinking the amount of annoying junk mail that ends up on their door mats each day.
"If people do still receive junk mail, then we are reminding them that it can be recycled through their kerbside recycling collection, at local recycling banks or scrunched up and composted at home."
To receive a free copy of the Mission Impossible Jilt the Junk Mail pack, residents can log on to http://www.wastemissionimpossible.org.uk/, call the Mission Impossible hotline on 01905 766883 or visit their local Worcestershire Hub or library.