San Diego, California (April 5, 2010) – April 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. And, in recognition of the awareness day, PostalAnnex+ stores are offering recycling tips for customers, as well as a $2.00 voucher good towards a future UPS or FedEx shipment.

While we all probably know the importance of recycling and have come across helpful advice on how to be more eco-friendly, Steve Goble, vice president of marketing communications for Annex Brands, franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands, gives the following useful guidelines:

• Recycle Packaging Peanuts and Bubble Wrap – Packaging loosefill, also known as foam packaging peanuts, are used as empty space fillers in shipping boxes. While some are biodegradable, others aren’t. Most pack-and-ship stores will accept your donations to keep them out of landfills. These stores also often accept donations of bubble-wrap sheets as well.
  

• Recycle Corrugated Cardboard – Your waste pickup provider might offer recycling bins for corrugated cardboard boxes in addition to trash bins.
  

• Downsize – Use the smallest box to fit your packaging needs and you will reduce the amount of internal packaging material you consume and save money on shipping!
  

• Choose Ground Service for Shipping – Trucks emit far less emissions than planes, so choose ground shipping whenever you can. Transit times are much shorter than they used to be with cross-country delivery in the same workweek.
  

• Shred it, don’t toss it – Personal documents such as service bills, credit card offers and statements are prime targets for identity theft. Shred these documents and then they can go in the recycle bin with peace of mind.
  

• Use Less Paper: Adjust Font Style and Size – Adjust the default style on word processing programs to use slightly smaller font and slightly wider margins. This way, you will be able to fit more text on a sheet a paper.
  

Goble adds that any recycling effort can be beneficial to the environment when it comes to printing, packaging and shipping. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American uses approximately one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year. The average office worker in the United States uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year, which equals to four million tons of copy paper used annually.

"We all depend on paper, plastic and other materials," said Goble. "However, it's all too easy to forget the amount of resources we use. By taking a few simple steps, individuals can save the environment, while also saving money – whether at home or the office.

"We encourage people to incorporate these recycling suggestions into their current recycling routine," added Goble. "And, we also invite them to drop off and recycle shipping materials like foam packaging peanuts and bubble wrap at our locations. We'll take care of that recycling routine for them!"

PostalAnnex+ business service centers are one-stop support centers for packing and shipping, packaging supplies, office supply needs, as well as other business services, including scanning and shredding, private mailbox rental, notary public services, key duplication, copy services and more.

For more information about PostalAnnex+ and to find a list of services at each location, please visit the company's website.

About Annex Brands
Annex Brands, Inc. is a franchisor of the PostalAnnex+, Handle With Care Packaging Store and Sunshine Pack & Ship brands. Formerly known as Postal Annex+, Inc, Annex Brands is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Its brands offer shipping and business services such as moving van, freight shipping, small parcel and overnight document delivery services, private mailbox rental, notary service, high-speed copying in black & white and color, office supplies, web site/e-commerce services, faxing service, printing, stationery, rubber address stamps, key duplication, greeting cards and assorted gift items, all in a convenient, service-oriented environment.

To find out more about the company, visit the company's website.

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