We’re committed to environmental stewardship and leading by example. With every delivery, the Postal Service is committed to making a positive impact on the environment — doing our part to ensure a healthy planet for future generations.
tons of paper
In 2018, the Postal Service recycled 177,612 tons of paper, 39,792 tons of cardboard and 5,537 tons of plastic.
Consider this: If each piece of recycled paper was a standard letter envelope, that would equate to 852.2 miles, which is more than 3.5 times the distance to the moon or more than 34 times around the Earth.
And about that plastic, most of it was shrink wrap equal to more than 103 miles of plastic film — enough to cover all of Manhattan three times or 448,948 football fields.
goes green
We help our customers reduce waste, increase recycling and improve their carbon footprint through our BlueEarth programs.
Postal blue goes green
We help our customers reduce waste, increase recycling and improve their carbon footprint through our BlueEarth programs.
The BlueEarth Secure Destruction mail service allows mailers to have First-Class letter and flat mail that can’t be delivered automatically intercepted and destroyed securely at a postal facility — for no additional charge — instead of being returned to the sender.
The USPS BlueEarth Federal Recycling Program transports and recycles used electronics for federal agencies with no shipping or item disposition costs.
The USPS BlueEarth Product Carbon Accounting service continues to grow. It provides large commercial customers a customized statement of carbon emissions associated with the customer’s mailings.
In addition to our BlueEarth programs, the Postal Service works with suppliers to maximize the use of recycled content materials in the manufacturing of stamps, postcards and packaging.
Recycle bins are available at many Post Office lobbies nationwide so customers can recycle their read mail.
And, the USPS National Recycling Operation uses existing transportation to backhaul recyclables from Post Offices to distribution centers for consolidation and diversion from landfill to recycling.
Each year, the Postal Service releases an Annual Sustainability Report. Information on the Postal Service’s sustainability efforts can be found at usps.com/green.
solar panels
The Postal Service has a solar power generation system at its Los Angeles mail processing facility consisting of 31,000 solar panels. This expands our use of alternative energy and makes the USPS facility one of the largest buildings generating electricity through solar energy in the city.
reduce energy goal
The Postal Service has a goal to reduce energy used per square foot of building space 25 percent by 2025. From 2015 to 2017, energy was reduced 6.6 percent. Additional improvements are planned.
letter carriers
More than 75,000 letter carriers drive to neighborhoods and then deliver the mail on foot. Nearly 7,000 carriers deliver mail entirely on foot -- the USPS Fleet of Feet. Mail is delivered by bicycle on select routes in Arizona and Florida, reducing emissions and saving fuel.
alternative fuel vehicles
The Postal Service operates a fleet of nearly 48,000 alternative fuel-capable vehicles, most of which are equipped to use ethanol. There are electric, compressed natural gas and liquid propane gas vehicles in the fleet as well. In 2018, 100 electric hybrid and 100 hydraulic hybrid 2-ton vehicles were purchased.
Trademarks
The Eagle Logo, the trade dress of USPS packaging, the Letter Carrier Uniform and the Postal Truck and the following word marks are among the many trademarks owned by the United States Postal Service®:
Certified Mail®, Click-N-Ship®, Every Door Direct Mail®, Express Mail®, First-Class™, First-Class Mail®, Forever®, Global Express Guaranteed®, gopost®, Intelligent Mail®, Metro Post®, Parcel Select®, PO Box™, Post Office™, PostalOne!®, Postal Police®, Postal Service™, Premium Forwarding Service® , Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, Priority Mail Express International®, Priority Mail Flat Rate®, Priority Mail International®, Priority: You®, Registered Mail™, Return For Good®, Standard Mail®, The Postal Store®, United States Postal Inspection Service®, United States Postal Service®, U.S. Mail®, U.S. Postal Inspector®, U.S. Postal Service®, USPS®, USPS BlueEarth®, USPS Mobile®, USPS Tracking®, USPS.COM®, ZIP + 4®, and ZIP Code™. This is not a comprehensive list of all Postal Service trademarks.
Postal Facts provides the public with information about the Postal Service. The facts in this publication may be reproduced for the purpose of stating the fact itself, and in a business, informational, academic context and the like, and in the body of text discussing factual subject matter relevant to the fact being presented. However, these facts may become outdated after publication and seeking the latest information is advised.
Website design by:
Scott Tracy
Visit about.usps.com for more information.
Produced by Corporate Communications
© 2016-2019 United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
The Eagle Logo, the trade dress of USPS packaging, the Letter Carrier Uniform and the Postal Truck and the following word marks are among the many trademarks owned by the United States Postal Service®:
Certified Mail®, Click-N-Ship®, Every Door Direct Mail®, Express Mail®, First-Class™, First-Class Mail®, Forever®, Global Express Guaranteed®, gopost®, Intelligent Mail®, Metro Post®, Parcel Select®, PO Box™, Post Office™, PostalOne!®, Postal Police®, Postal Service™, Premium Forwarding Service® , Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, Priority Mail Express International®, Priority Mail Flat Rate®, Priority Mail International®, Priority: You®, Registered Mail™, Return For Good®, Standard Mail®, The Postal Store®, United States Postal Inspection Service®, United States Postal Service®, U.S. Mail®, U.S. Postal Inspector®, U.S. Postal Service®, USPS®, USPS BlueEarth®, USPS Mobile®, USPS Tracking®, USPS.COM®, ZIP + 4®, and ZIP Code™. This is not a comprehensive list of all Postal Service trademarks.
Postal Facts provides the public with information about the Postal Service. The facts in this publication may be reproduced for the purpose of stating the fact itself, and in a business, informational, academic context and the like, and in the body of text discussing factual subject matter relevant to the fact being presented. However, these facts may become outdated after publication and seeking the latest information is advised.
Website design by:
Scott Tracy
Visit about.usps.com for more information.
Produced by Corporate Communications
© 2016-2019 United States Postal Service. All rights reserved.
