That familiar “You’ve got mail” feeling has changed over the years — for many households, it’s starting to look more like You Got Junk Mail.
National estimates show the average home receives roughly 40 pounds of junk mail each year, from flyers and credit offers to catalogs and advertisements. Most of it goes straight into the trash, adding up quickly in the local waste stream.
A small shift in habits could make a measurable impact. According to West Plains Recycling, if just 10 percent of West Plains households recycled their unwanted mail, the community would keep an estimated 26,000 pounds of paper out of the landfill annually.
Junk mail is accepted in curbside recycling bins and can also be dropped off at the West Plains Recycling Center. Residents with questions about proper recycling practices can call 417‑255‑2330 for more information.
