Blanket bombing postal customers and hoping for the best with unsolicited advertisements filling mailboxes has long been an outdated, inefficient and costly endeavor. The consumer ultimately bears the fiscal burden with increased cost of products and services as a result of this spectacularly inefficient style of marketing. The environmental cost is also massive and largely preventable with a very easy and proven system that is brilliant in its simplicity.

In Sweden, by law, all one needs to do is post “no advertisement” clearly on the mailbox door and delivery of any nonspecific advertising correspondence to that mailbox is prohibited. The postal customer is in complete control and can change their mind one way or another simply by affixing or removing the message to the carrier. As such, Sweden has easily and efficiently decreased the fiscal and environmental burden of unwanted mail with two simple words.

Vermont should consider similar voluntary and reversible control by postal customers over the endless flow of wasteful and anachronistic spending which has tangible fiscal and environmental impacts to all.

Vermont has a chance to lead the country yet again with common sense.

Anders Holm

Ferrisburgh