A few months ago, especially around the holidays, I was swimming in junk mail.  Between catalogs, credit card mailings, and other direct mail, a LOT of paper was wasted.  I always feel guilty at the waste and annoyed by the clutter it creates, so I was very excited to hear about the GreenDimes FreeMe service, which actually removes you from junk mail lists! 

Here’s how it works - you can sign up at http://www.greendimes.com for $20.  Right away, they will remove you from dozens of direct mail lists and plant 5 trees.  You can also input the catalogs that you want to be removed from.  Some lists do require a signature from you, so GreenDimes will mail you a form to fill out.  You can refresh the service for $10 when you move or after some time has passed.  Finally, they actually monitor your account to make sure you stay off the lists!

If you are looking for the perfect gift for that hard-to-buy for friend or relative, or even for yourself, GreenDimes has recently introduced a new GreenDimes GreenME gift set.  The gift set includes the FreeMe service, a reusable bag, a GreenDimes t-shirt, two energy saving light bulbs, and for a limited time, a copy of the book Little Critter: It’s Earth Day. 

You can find more information and place an order at http://www.greendimes.com.

A side note on the Little Critter book - it’s also available separately.  If you are looking for a fun little tale to help explain Earth Day to your children you should definitely check it out.  Little Critter, upon learning that his beloved Polar Bears are affected by climate change, seeks out ways to improve the environment.  It’s a really cute story that kids will relate to.  You can find it at Amazon.com.