Junk Mail

Unwanted direct mail or ‘junk’ mail is a growing area of waste, much of this unwanted junk mail ends up unread in the bin.

Junk mail facts

• Direct mail and promotions material accounts for around 550,000 tonnes of paper: 4.4% of the UK’s annual consumption of paper and board;
  
• For each tonne of junk mail produced 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water and 390 gallons of oil are used;
  
• Junk Mail constitutes around 3 to 4% of the household waste stream or 36kg to 48kg per household per year;
  
• Each year in the UK, around 78,000 tonnes of junk mail is generated;
  
• Over a third of all direct mail is discarded unopened.

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