"Blizzard of Catalogs Stuff Americans' Mailboxes"

"Last year, an estimated 17 billion catalogs were sent to U.S. households. That's about 56, for every man, woman and child.

Now, a growing chorus of environmental groups is sounding the alarm that the Yuletide avalanche may not be good, for goodness sake, for the planet. Some are seeking a national 'Do Not Mail' registry, modeled on the 'Do Not Call' list that Congress set up in 2003 to control telemarketers. They say the public should also have an enforceable, easy way to block junk mail."

Paul Rogers reports for the San Jose Mercury News November 26, 2009.