Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has urged the direct marketing industry to advertise the Mailing Preference Service on all direct mail.

The Direct Marketing Association has said that Government's new waste strategy is bad for the direct marketing industry, consumers and Royal Mail.

Government yesterday announced its new waste strategy for England. The strategy outlines how Government hopes to reduce the amount of waste we produce as a nation - and includes ideas to cut junk mail.

The Liberal Democrat controlled council in York has run into trouble after a resident complained about junk mail being shoved through his letterbox - by the party's deputy leader.

Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, has urged Government to take action to reduce the amount of junk mail posted through British letterboxes.