Green Living > ReusingSeptember 17, 2010

Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

To save money on buying envelopes, take any pre-addressed envelopes that come in the mail that aren't going to be used and put white labels over the address. Make sure not to use envelopes that are obviously not suited to your purpose. Even the envelopes with the see through windows can be used. Just put the white label over the window part. We haven't purchased envelopes in ages!

By fossil1955 from Cortez, CO

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By
09/17/2011

You may be saving money on envelopes, but you're having to buy the labels. Which is cheaper?

By
08/20/2011

I wholeheartedly agree with marinewife5, if you're receiving unsolicited advertising from a company you don't want to do business with. If they have to pay to get their junk back, you can bet they'll take you off their list and if enough people do it, they may be more careful about creating that list in the first place (and thereby save a lot of trees).

As for reusing instead of recycling: the three R's of green living are:
1. Reduce the amount of packaging, advertising, etc that comes into your home, then
2. Reuse everything you can (like backs of envelopes for scratch paper, and glass jars for food storage), and when you can't reuse it any more.
Then:
3. Recycle everything you can.

By
09/22/2010

Good tip, however, on any envelope with a bar code under the address, you should cover over (not just mark through) the bar code, or the envelope may go to the original addressee and not where you addressed it. Post Office scanners can sometimes pick up the bar code through the black marker.

By
09/19/2010

I've been saving envelopes like this for years - you will be amazed at how many you get and I can't keep all of them as there are too many!

I use them for shopping lists and coupon storage as well, but they are also handy to keep by the computer to use as scratch paper. And when you are done with the outside, you can cut the two shorter sealed sides of the envelopes, turn them inside out and you can keep using them.

By
09/18/2010

Be sure to cover or black out any pre-printed bar code at the bottom of those envelopes (below the address area); otherwise the postal machines will scan the code and deliver them to the original addressee, not your intended addressee.

By
09/18/2010

I was going to say what lindal did and also adding that if what you placed for mailing in that envelope is lost (if you don't cover up the bar code) will automatically go to the company that sent you the envelope rather than be returned to you or forwarded on to who you wanted it to go to. The bar codes are that company's personal mailing information and the mechanical postal readers accept that info before handwritten info.

By
09/18/2010

Some envelops have a bar code on them, either line this out or use WhiteOut. The bar code will mess up delivery of your other mail.

By
09/18/2010

I've used these for years, too! In fact, when desperate, I have opened up the envelopes at the glued seams (steam works well if it doesn't come apart easily) and turned them inside out. Some of them have really pretty printing on the inside to make them secure.

By
09/18/2010

The archived suggestions on this topic are great. If the envelope is prepaid by the company sending it out, I do choose to return all the information that was sent to me-- unsolicited-- back to the company with instructions to remove me. This is the best use of the money already spent on the postage. You CANNOT legally reuse these prepaid envelopes for your own use other than to that originating company.

However, most envelopes that I receive from my bill companies do not have prepaid postage. Those I DO reuse for my own purposes, mailing other correspondence, etc. It saves me pennies each time which is my first concern, not the recycle center down the street.

By
09/18/2010

I also reuse the envelopes, but the ones with the window I write my list on the other side and put all my coupons for that order in it and seal it so they don't fall out or blow away. I am not able to do my own shopping anymore so it makes it easier for the person doing the shopping for me to keep track of them, before doing this something always happened and not all coupons were applied. No more errors now. :) You can also use them to separate your coupons into categories and put them in an old envelope box and things go faster when making your list.

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Archived Discussions

Below you can read previous posts and comments about this topic. The discussions on this page has been archived 1 time. Select a discussion and read the feedback here.

(Archived Sep 17, 2010)Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

Tip: Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

Reuse junk mail return envelopes as mailing envelopes. If envelope has a bar code at the bottom, you can run a black marker through the bar code. I always write a reminder on any box or envelope I use, such as "Go Green-Recycle" or "I recycle, do you?" If you get really irritated by all the prepaid junk mail envelopes, stick everything the company sent you in the prepaid envelope. Be sure you include your name and address section and mail it back to them at their cost! Write next to your name/address to remove you from their mailing list. Eventually they will take you off their mailing list even if you don't make a note!

By Tracey from Thomasville

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RE: Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

A less mean-spirited way is to recycle the junk mail. The church near here is part of the Abitibi Paper Retriever recycling program with big yellow and green bins open to the public. Profits from the paper, magazines, newpapers, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, etc. go back to the companies whose parking lot is used. Look them up online. Most websites will tell you how to unsubscribe to advertising mail. (05/04/2007)

By OhioGirl

RE: Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

RE: Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

I sometimes take the inside out, because it usually has some sort of a print on it. I then save these to my scraps of printed paper for making my own cards. (05/04/2007)

By okstamper

RE: Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

You and OhioGirl both have marvelous suggestions for recycling! I plan to start practicing your idea and looking into hers online. God bless both of you! (05/05/2007)

By tedsmom

RE: Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

Consumers pay for those prepaid envelopes in the end through increased costs, so while this type of "revenge" may seem clever, I wouldn't suggest this route. Opt out, and/or reuse the envelopes in some manner. I shred anything with my name on it, and toss the usable envelopes into a basket, using them for my grocery lists, errand lists, notes to family and for to-do lists. (05/14/2007)

By mef1957

RE: Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes

Using prepaid envelopes for purposes other than the use for which they were intended is against the law. It is fraud, and may be a federal crime.

You may throw them in the trash (I hope) or use them as toilet paper, but you can not use them as correspondence envelopes with the company who sent them or other wise. (07/25/2007)

By Scott

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