One of the fundamental roles that VPIRG plays for its members and the public is that of consumer advocate. We play a watchdog role, calling out corporations that cut corners to increase profits at the expense of safety and fairness in the marketplace and look to increase protections that safeguard consumers against fraud, dangerous products and predatory business practices..
The national “Do Not Call Registry” was established in 2003 and has received more than 125 million telephone numbers from people who do not want their contact information sold to telemarketers. Three years later, Americans are still waiting for a simple, companion registry in order to reduce the quantity of unwanted junk mail they receive from direct mailers.
A “Do Not Mail” opt-out registry would simply give everyone control over their private mailboxes. Like the Do Not Call Registry, the proposed Do Not Mail Registry for Vermont would provide exemptions for political campaigns and charities (nonprofits) that aim to engage Americans’ civic responsibilities. Companies that have an established business relationship with a resident would also be granted an exemption as is the case with the Do Not Call list.
It’s no secret that direct mail, also known as “Standard Mail (A),” generates a large portion of the US Postal Service mailing revenue, but giving citizens the freedom to opt out of direct mail doesn’t necessarily equate to less revenue. In fact, having a more refined list could generate additional mailing revenues as response rates increase, and small and medium-sized organizations may be able to afford the costs associated with direct mail.
Citizens have the right to post a “No Soliciting” sign on their doors, turn off the TV and radio when unwanted ads come on and sign up for the popular Do Not Call telemarketer registry. Shouldn't we have the right to opt out of junk mail with an easy-to-use Do Not Junk registry?
Cick here to urge your state Representatives to support this important legislation.
pounds of junk mail received by Vermont households every year
$1 million
amount Vermonters pay every year to discard junk mail, mostly by municipalities and city taxes.
420,000
number of garbage trucks worth of waste from unwanted catalogs and other direct mailings in the US each year. Parked bumper to bumper these garbage trucks would extend from Burlington to Birmingham.
91
percentage of all U.S. adults who have heard of the national Do Not Call Registry. More than half of all adults report that they signed up and now receive far fewer telemarketing calls or none at all.
44
percentage of bulk mail that’s thrown away unopened
The national “Do Not Call Registry” was established in 2003 and has received more than 125 million telephone numbers from people who do not want their contact information sold to telemarketers. Three years later, Americans are still waiting for a simple, companion registry in order to reduce the quantity of unwanted junk mail they receive from direct mailers. 
Cick here 
Consumer Product Safety Commission -