Question 1

What is EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)?

Accepted Answer

EDDM is a USPS program that allows businesses to send advertising mail to every address in a postal carrier route without needing names or individual addresses. It's the mail marked 'ECRWSS' or addressed to 'Postal Customer' that you receive regularly.

Question 2

What does ECRWSS mean on my mail?

Accepted Answer

ECRWSS stands for 'Enhanced Carrier Route Walking Sequence Saturation.' It indicates that the mail piece is being delivered to every address on a postal route—it's the technical designation for EDDM saturation mail.

Question 3

Why is my mail addressed to 'Postal Customer'?

Accepted Answer

Mail addressed to 'Postal Customer,' 'Resident,' or 'Current Occupant' is saturation mail. Advertisers pay to reach every address without needing individual names. This generic addressing is why you cannot refuse or return this mail.

Question 4

How much junk mail does the average American receive?

Accepted Answer

The average American household receives approximately 800+ pieces of junk mail per year, totaling around 41 pounds of paper. Nationally, the USPS delivers over 80 billion pieces of advertising mail annually.

Question 5

Can I opt out of EDDM mail?

Accepted Answer

No. There is currently no legal mechanism to opt out of EDDM or saturation mail in the United States. Unlike spam email or robocalls, postal advertising has no federal opt-out registry.

Question 6

Can I put a 'No Junk Mail' sign on my mailbox?

Accepted Answer

You can, but it has no legal effect. USPS carriers are instructed to deliver EDDM mail to every address regardless of any signs, stickers, or requests from residents.

Question 7

Can I refuse EDDM mail and return it?

Accepted Answer

No. You can only refuse mail that is addressed to you personally. Since EDDM mail is addressed to 'Postal Customer' rather than your name, the USPS does not accept refusals.

Question 8

Does DMAchoice or CatalogChoice stop EDDM?

Accepted Answer

No. These services only affect addressed mail from participating companies. They have zero effect on EDDM, saturation mail, or any mail addressed to 'Postal Customer' or 'Resident.'

Question 9

What mail CAN I stop?

Accepted Answer

You can reduce some addressed junk mail using: OptOutPrescreen.com (credit/insurance offers), DMAchoice.org (participating company mail), and direct opt-out requests to individual companies. None of these affect EDDM.

Question 10

Why is there a Do Not Call registry but no Do Not Mail registry?

Accepted Answer

The Do Not Call registry was created by the FTC under specific telemarketing regulations. No equivalent law exists for postal advertising. The USPS, which profits from advertising mail, has no incentive to create one, and direct mail industry lobbying has blocked legislative attempts.

Question 11

Who controls my mailbox?

Accepted Answer

Legally, your mailbox is reserved for exclusive use by the USPS under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1725). While you own the physical mailbox, only postal carriers may place items inside it, and you cannot restrict what the USPS delivers.

Question 12

Has anyone tried to create a Do Not Mail registry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Several bills have been introduced in Congress over the years, but none have passed due to opposition from the direct mail industry and lack of political priority. The USPS itself has never supported such legislation.

Question 13

Do other countries allow people to opt out of junk mail?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Netherlands uses an opt-in system where you only receive advertising mail if you display a 'JA/JA' sticker. Germany's 'Keine Werbung' (No Advertising) stickers are legally binding. The UK's Mail Preference Service covers most unaddressed mail.

Question 14

How many trees are cut down for junk mail?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 80-100 million trees are harvested annually to produce junk mail in the United States, according to the Center for Development of Recycling.

Question 15

What is the carbon footprint of junk mail?

Accepted Answer

Junk mail production and disposal generates approximately 51.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per year—equivalent to the annual emissions of about 11 million cars.

Question 16

How much junk mail goes directly to the trash?

Accepted Answer

Studies indicate that approximately 44% of junk mail is thrown away without ever being opened. The remainder is typically discarded shortly after minimal review.

Question 17

Is recycling junk mail a solution?

Accepted Answer

Recycling helps reduce landfill waste but doesn't address the upstream environmental damage: trees cut, water consumed, and emissions produced. Prevention is far more effective than recycling.

Question 18

What can I do about junk mail?

Accepted Answer

The most impactful actions are: 1) Sign and share the petition for a Do Not Mail registry, 2) Contact your congressional representatives, 3) Use available opt-out services for addressed mail, and 4) Raise awareness about this issue in your community.

Question 19

Where can I sign the petition?

Accepted Answer

You can sign the petition calling for USPS to create a Do Not Mail registry on Change.org. The petition link is available on our Take Action page.

Question 20

Who should I contact in Congress?

Accepted Answer

Contact both your House Representative and your two Senators. You can find their contact information at house.gov and senate.gov. Let them know you support legislation for a federal Do Not Mail registry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding EDDM

Opt-Out Options

Legal and Policy

Environmental Impact

Taking Action

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