A study into the paper consumption of 20 major UK companies shows that while some financial companies and publishers of magazines have drastically reduced their paper consumption, many bulk mailers are still unwilling to even discuss paper waste.

The economic downturn, cheaper ways of sending junk mail and increasing concern about waste caused by junk mail has led to a 6.2% drop in direct mail spend. Last year, expenditure on addressed advertising mail fell by 10%.

A survey by the Local Government Association shows that an overwhelming majority of elections officers support a ban on the sale of the Edited Electoral Register.

Nearly a third of all complaints about charity fundraising relate to 'direct mail'. The Fundraising Standards Board had expected face to face fundraising would attract most complaints.

A poll by welovelocal.com suggests 35% of Brits would prefer not to receive printed business directories at home – preferring instead to look up information on the internet or to go by recommendations from friends.

The Read Group Plc has accused the charity sector of mailing millions of people who have either moved or died. Charities are 'abusing the trust of its donors', according to the company.

The number of people opted-out of having their name and address included on the Edited Electoral Register has decreased by nearly three per cent. About 40% of voters are now marked as 'opted out'.

Junk e-mails, or spam, accounted for 90 to 95% of all e-mail in 2007, according to research by Barracuda Networks. The figure is up from an estimated 5% in 2001.

Research by the Fundraising Standards Board has found the public has strong views on mailings from charities. In particular gifts and incentives enclosed with appeals do not go down well.

A study by the Direct Marketing Association's 'Email Marketing Council' has found that for the first time commercial e-mails have overtaken traditional direct mail.