2010 Washington State Activity:

Spokane Resolution

The Spokane City Council rejected a non-binding Do Not Mail resolution at its May 3 meeting. Resolution no. 10-28 urged the Washington State Legislature to adopt a state Do Not Mail registry and would have directed the public utilities departments to encourage their customers to use existing mail preference services.

Read an excellent article about the hearing from the Spokane Spokesman-Review:

Spin Control
City Council rejects ‘Do Not Mail’ concept
Posted by Jonathan at 11:50 p.m. on May 3

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2010/may/03/city-council-rejects-do-not-mail-concept/ 

 

Seattle City Council Passes Revised Do Not Mail Resolution

Despite addition of text to evaluate private sector mail management programs, resolution remains bad for industry

The Seattle City Council voted 8-1 to pass a Do Not Mail resolution on January 25. This resolution calls on the Washington state legislature and Congress to implement Do Not Mail registries. If adopted by the state legislature or Congress, the proposed registry would impose substantial penalties on direct mail advertisers that send mail to consumers who have added their names to the Do Not Mail registry. Although the Do Not Mail resolution’s text still includes unfounded environmental facts about direct mail, the resolution includes one new section directing the Seattle Public Utilities to evaluate current private sector mail management programs.

'The Seattle City Council directs Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) to evaluate existing Do Not Mail registries operated by private organizations. The evaluation should seek to identify registries that offer a large selection of businesses for which customers can register a Do Not Mail request, provide confirmation of a customer’s Do Not Mail request, do not have unnecessary expiration dates after which re-registration is required, and protect customer privacy. SPU should report the results of its evaluation to the City Council by June 30, 2010, with the intent that SPU will actively inform its customers of registries that meet the above-listed criteria including the potential solid waste reduction that could be achieved if SPU customers use such registries.'

Various printers, mailers, local businesses and union representatives gave outstanding testimony at the hearing, outlining the return on investment provided by direct mail marketing and the sustainability of paper.

IP and xpedx played a role in this effort through our active participation in the Mail Moves America Coalition, by encouraging grassroots letters from our customers and employees, and attending the Seattle City Council hearing to demonstrate our opposition. xpedx will continue our outreach with state legislators in Olympia to ensure that the Seattle resolution does not gain traction and to provide information about existing private sector mail management programs.
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