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I’ve been away on a trip and returned to find the kitchen counter stacked with every junk-mail offer that entered my home since I’ve been gone.

Then, I made the quick trip to my mailbox and found more of the usual culprits — five mail-order catalogues (two from the same company), three political ads and — tucked between the ads — one very important bill.

Do you feel like the paper from the mail is overcoming your world? I walked back into the house and threw them on the counter, where they will reside with the others until I get around to sorting what came in while I was gone.

Paper can control our world, and more than a few trees have been chopped down to provide it. Let’s look at some ways to tame the paper monster.

• Catalogues — You don’t have to get all those catalogues. First, order only under one name at one address. That will prevent you from receiving the same catalogue for two different people as I did in the mailbox today. You can also choose to shop online, which will keep you from getting catalogues. Or go to www.catalogchoice.org and have your name taken off merchants’ mailing lists.

• Junk mail — You don’t have to get all that junk mail! Put your name on the “do not mail” list at www.dmachoice.org/consumerassistance.php

• If you are receiving offers for credit cards, you can be removed from those mailing lists as well. Opt out of credit card offers by calling the Credit Reporting Industry pre-screening opt-out number at (888) 567-8688. You have the option of removing your name for five years or permanently.

• Shred anything that might have personal information in it before throwing it away. Shred credit card offers that come in the mail.

A shredder can be purchased for as little as $30-$40 and can save you thousands if your information should fall into the wrong hands.

One hundred million trees are used to create the junk mail that shows up in our mailboxes each year, according to the consumer group New American Dream. Nearly half of it is never opened.

So how do we handle the mail? Set up a bill-paying system — no more stacks! A simple folder system works to organize. Label one folder “bills to pay” and drop the bill that came today into it. It’s a good idea to check the folder once a week to make sure you are not missing a bill that needs to be paid. If you miss a credit card payment, you may be liable for not only the $39 late fee, as you may see your interest rate rise.

Or you could have a folder for bills due from the first to the 15th of the month and a second for the later part of the month.

Another folder can hold tax documents. You may need a couple of folders for this, depending how complex your taxes are. I keep one with receipts and bills from a rental house we have. Most of the rest go in a folder to be pulled out at tax time. No hunting through the stacks for receipts you should have. It will all be organized for you.

Even the paper we read stacks up. I recycle the newspaper and magazines we have already read. Stacking them up, bagging or tying them is a bit of a bother, but is preferable to adding to the landfill.

If you have extra books, you can donate them to the Literacy Council at Forget-Me-Not Books. Or, if you prefer, there is a program to send books to military personnel overseas at www.booksforsoldiers.com. They have a list of requests, and you send the books directly to the soldier.

I’m a long way from perfect in this area myself. I’m always trying to get papers organized, both at home and at work. But hunting for items can take up time, requires energy and can certainly frustrate you.

Don’t let the paper monster overtake you. Take steps to manage it responsibly.