New York City Launches Waste Junk Mail Program

New York City has launched a campaign to help residents unsubscribe from unwanted mail waste to their homes.

The city is launching a public education campaign to connect residents to a free online tool established by GreeNYC to opt of junk mail. The city said in a news release New Yorkers get an estimated 2 billion pieces of waste junk mail annually.

 The city also said only 32 percent of junk mail gets put in with recycling, leaving 180 million pounds of junk mail going to landfills. That costs the city more than $12.5 million annually.

Residents need to visit the site, create an account and unsubscribe to opt out of receiving unwanted catalogs, credit card offers, phone books and other materials.

"By opting out of junk mail, you not only save yourself the hassle of disposing of it, but you will be saving your city millions of dollars and help reduce our city’s waste footprint," said Kathryn Garcia, New York Department of Sanitation commissioner.

GreeNYC is New York City’s public education program aiming to help residents reduce waste and improve their environmental management. Mayor Bill de Blasio has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions in the city by 80 percent by 2050, and the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability is implementing policies toward that end.