Unwanted Mail/Identity Theft

Catalogs, credit-card offers, newspaper inserts, glossy postcards and other advertisements overwhelm the mailbox. One study reports that we receive more than 40 pounds of unwanted mail each year. Most unwanted mail can be recycled - including envelopes with windows.

But you need to be careful. Credit-card applications and other unwanted mail containing any personal information should be shredded. Most local recycling programs do not accept shredded paper so you will have to dispose of it - unless your program offers single-day shredding events. To see what your program offers, visit www.scdhec.gov/recyclehereSC.

The most important thing you can do is control your exposure. By not receiving unwanted mail you secure personal information while reducing the amount of waste created.

Here is who to contact to reduce the amount of unwanted mail you get at home:

• OptOutPrescreen.com is the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry web site to reduce the amount of credit card offers you receive.
• The Direct Marketing Association offers the opportunity to remove your name from mailing lists.
• Catalog Choice lets you choose the catalogs you wish to receive.
• ValPak allows you to be removed from their mailing list.
• The National Yellow Pages Consumer Choice and Opt Out Site allows you to stop delivery of phone books.

For everything else, send an email or search the company's web site for opt-out options.

The Federal Trade Commission offers information on stopping unwanted mail, unsolicited phone calls and email. Visit here to learn more.