The number of leaflets pushed through British letterboxes may have decreased; the amount of junk mail I'm getting myself is on the up. Two junk mailers have already ignored the sticker on me door this year. The offenders: a 'garden maintenance and property service' called 'Organique' and a company called 'SWS' (something to do with 'window solutions').

Both companies seem to have adopted a 'green' marketing strategy. That's something I first noted before Christmas; more and more companies deliver leaflets advertising all sorts of 'greenie' things lately. Happy free-range happy turkeys, hand-made Christmas wreaths, local and seasonal fruit and veg… it must have to do with Norwich' reputation of being the greenest city in the UK.

To be sure, not all that junk is as 'green' as one would hope. There's nothing 'organic' about 'Organique' (one of its services is 'concreting') and none of the leaflets was printed on recycled paper. More importantly, despite all the green rhetoric these companies seem to be completely unable to respect that sign on my letterbox that says:

I contacted Organique and got an apology and explanation: "After delivering several hundred flyers per day you tend to become oblivious to your surroundings and not really paying enough attention", the e-mail said. Which reminds me that I should point you to this recent comment from a leaflet distributor. No, they're not all 'baddies'. And yes, they're just doing their job. And… they do need our co-operation. Put 'No Junk Mail' signs on the letterbox and not on a window away from the door; don't write long list with what you do and don't want to receive through the door; and if you're lucky enough to have a long drive, put the sign up at the end of it. Useful advice from 'the dark side'.

Leaflet distributors deserve some praise. Almost all leaflets I've received in the last year or so have been delivered by local businesses themselves. Distribution companies hardly ever bother me. (Knock on wood).