‘NO Junk Mail’ stickers are being made available to householders across Limerick in a bid to reduce the amount of waste generated locally by unsolicited mail dropped through letterboxes.
The Southern Waste Regional Office, supported by the Environment Section of Limerick City and County Council, has developed the initiative as part of its ‘Do One More Thing Campaign’ to encourage resource efficiency and waste prevention.
The campaign is a key element of a public consultation on a new plan that sets out a framework for waste management in 10 counties across the south of Ireland, including Limerick, during the next six years.
Key targets outlined in the Draft Southern Region Waste Management Plan, which is one of three being developed in Ireland, include a one per cent reduction per annum in the quantity of household waste generated per capita over the period of the plan, a recycling/preparing for reuse rate of 50 per cent by 2020, and the elimination of the direct disposal of unprocessed residual waste to landfill from 2016.
“Junk mail is not only a great source of annoyance for many householders but it is also a huge generator of unnecessary waste,” explained Sinead McDonnell, environmental awareness officer for Limerick City and County Council.
“Unsolicited mail is mail you receive through your letter box and not via An Post.  It generally comprises of items such as local take away menus, local taxi companies, and local companies advertising services such as house or garden maintenance. In Limerick, especially around the City area, the problem is particularly bad and is a source of annoyance for many,” said Ms McDonnell.
“While junk mail can be recycled most householders when asked say they would prefer not to get it in the first place. The ‘No Junk Mail’ stickers we are making available are a polite way to request distributors not to give you the material,” she added.
No Junk Mail stickers are being made available from the offices of the Environment Section of Limerick City and County Council in Merchants Quay. A number of local Tidy Towns Groups are also distributing the stickers.