Fox 5 -- Proposed Law Seeks to Limit Catalogs
,December 21st, 2009
This time of year your mailbox is full of catalogs -- whether you like it or not.
That could change if lawmakers in Washington pass a proposed new law.
They've stuffed our mailboxes for years. Seventeen billion are mailed out annually.
That's roughly 56 catalogs for every man, woman, and child in America.
"For
something that most people don't want and never asked for -- catalogs
and junk mail generate enormous amounts of waste," said Will Craven of
Forestethics.
Millions of tons of paper are used to print direct mail, according to environmentalists.
It's
a number they want slashed -- with the creation of a national do not
mail registry -- similar to the do not call list for telemarketers.
"It would have incredible benefits for the world's remaining intact endangered forests that have irreplaceable ecosystems, precious wildlife," Craven said.