University of Idaho Bulk Business Mail Sustainability Initiative
Type: Policy
Status: Adopted
Source File: http://www.dfm.uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=110582
Text:
Purpose
The University of Idaho annually receives many tons of bulk business mail, commonly referred to as “junk mail,” almost all of which is immediately thrown away. Delivering bulk business mail consumes valuable staff time, increases fuel and equipment use and increases the volume of waste that must be processed. The policy also helps the University of Idaho fulfill its commitment to the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment program that President Tim White signed onto in April of 2007.
Policy
It is the policy of University of Idaho Sustainability Program for Campus Mail and Receiving (CMR) to no longer deliver the following items:
- Bulk mail that does not have a named recipient on it—either individual or department.
- Catalogues from home and consumer retail establishments.
- Common catalogues readily available online.
- Personal magazines such as People Magazine and Entertainment Weekly. It has always been a UI policy that personal mail should not be routed through the UI mail service. This will not impact professional and technical publications. Please change any personal magazine and newspaper subscriptions to your home address. Departmental subscriptions will still be delivered and should have the department name in the mailing address.
- Credit card solicitations.
- Advertisements
The above-listed bulk mail will be recycled immediately rather than distributed across campus to be thrown in the garbage. Major sources of the above-listed bulk mail will be contacted to be informed that their mail will not be distributed and to request that they stop sending it. Individuals can opt out of bulk business mail by contacting at:
- Direct Marketing Association
- P.O. Box 9008
- Farmington NY 11735-9008
Or by going to their website and creating a free mail management account at https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/home.action
An “opt-out” registry for junk mail distributed from on-campus sources on a department by department basis has also been developed. This will include junk mail and flyers distributed by UI entities to the broader campus through the mail system. The goal is to encourage all on-campus communications to be distributed through electronic media.
Organizations Affected
This policy only impacts the UI unique zip code of 83844 and only UI business mail that is handled by Campus Mail and Receiving operations. This policy does not impact students living in the University Residences using the city of Moscow zip code of 83843.
Exemptions
Exceptions will be made by department on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Darin Saul, Sustainability Coordinator to discuss concerns about this policy.
Definition
Junk Mail — “unsolicited mail, such as advertisements, mailed out in large quantities indiscriminately.”