Junk mail

Fed up with junk mail? You're not alone

17.5 billion pieces of junk mail are produced every year in the UK. This includes addressed and unaddressed junk mail. 

650 pieces of junk mail are posted through the average UK letterbox every year. 15 per cent of households in the UK are registered with the Mailing Preference Service. Less than 0.5 per cent have opted out of receiving unaddressed junk mail delivered by Royal Mail. 

Take part in our 'Stop junk mail' campaign by registering with the Mailing Preference Service and displaying one of our 'no junk mail' letterbox stickers.

Junk mail facts

• Half a million tonnes of junk mail is generated every year in the UK
• The average household receives over 220 pieces of unwanted and junk mail, most of which ends up in the bin
• Each tonne of junk mail produced a staggering 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water and 390 gallons of oil are used

What can I do to reduce junk mail?

With the amount of waste we produce increasing every year, Southwark Council is encouraging householders to take action to reduce junk mail and thereby reduce waste.

Request your free stop junk mail pack

We have put together a free stop junk mail pack to help you get rid of all that unnecessary junk! To request a pack contact the waste management team.

Five easy ways to reduce junk mail

1. Reduce addressed unwanted mail

Register with the Mailing Preference Service and remove your name and address from 95 per cent of mailing lists. Call 0845 703 4599 or register online here.

2. Reduce unaddressed junk mail

To reduce mail addressed to "The Occupier", write to

Freepost RRBT-ZBXB-TTTS
Door to Door Opt Outs
Royal Mail
Kingsmead House
Oxpens Road
OXFORD
OX1 1RX

3. Stop leaflets and flyers through your door

Place a sticker on your letterbox saying you do not wish to receive these.

4. Avoid joining new mailing list

When completing consumer related forms, always tick the box to show that you do not wish to receive further correspondence from these companies.

5. Leave mailing lists

Write or telephone any organisations that you have had past dealings with to ask to be removed from their databases. Alternatively, return any junk mail that you do receive to the sender.

And recycle!

Remember any junk mail you receive can be recycled using your blue bag, if you live in a street based property, or at one of over 250 bring sites across the borough.