18 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Home by Going Green

These simple steps will not only clear space in every room, from the bedroom and kitchen to the home office and hall closet – but they'll also cut waste and reduce your environmental impact.

By Dan Shapley

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2 Ways to Stop Clutter Before It Starts

Clutter is what we bring into our homes that we don't want. The first step in successfully reducing clutter is to stop bringing clutter into our homes! Here are two easy ways to do that:

Stop Receiving Junk Mail
The average American household receives an estimated 850 pieces of junk mail every year — enough, as we all know, to cover our kitchen tables several times over. It's no coincidence that paper makes up one-quarter of all landfill waste, or that the junk mail industry's environmental footprint is large, equivalent to the tailpipe pollution from 9 million cars.

You can reclaim the calm of an uncluttered tabletop with a few keystrokes. Just register for the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Association Website. For $1, your name and address will be removed from prospective mailing lists, ending 75% of junk mail within about 90 days.

Stop Receiving Phone Books
While you're at it, opt out of home phone book delivery. Contact your local publisher, and/or try opting out using www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org or www.YellowPagesOptOut.com.

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