WASHINGTON,
DC—Nov.
9,
2011—The
U.S.
Postal
Service
announced
a
two-week
amnesty
period
to
encourage
the
rapid
return
of
postal-owned
equipment,
especially
pallets
and mail
tubs.
This
announcement
comes on
the
heels of
recent
equipment
recoveries
made by
the
U.S.
Postal
Inspection
Service
(go
here for
additional
details
).
“The Postal Service spent nearly $50 million this past fiscal year to replace equipment that was never returned,” said David Williams, vice president, Network Operations. “This is a serious issue. We are in a financial crisis and simply cannot afford this type of unnecessary expense. The equipment is federal property and we want it back.”
The amnesty period to return mail transport equipment, or MTE, will run from Nov. 12-26, 2011. Anyone possessing Postal Service MTE is strongly encouraged to return it during this time period and no questions will be asked.
During the amnesty period, small amounts of equipment can be dropped off at local Post Offices or nearby mail processing and distribution centers. Arrangements can be made for the Postal Service to pick up large amounts of equipment and/or pallets by sending an email to hqmte@usps.gov, and including “Equipment Pickup Request” in the subject line and company name, address where the equipment is located, type of mail transport equipment and quantity, and contact information in the message.
There also is a mail transport equipment recovery hotline (1-866-330-3404) that can be used to report the misuse of equipment, such as hoarding or recycling.
As
information,
the
following
message
is
printed
clearly
on all
U.S.
Postal
Service
equipment:
WARNING:
Maximum
penalty
for
theft or
misuse
of
postal
property,
$1,000
fine and
3 year’s
imprisonment
(Title
18 USC
1707).”
Chapter
58 of
the
Postal
Operations
Manual (POM)
and
Title 18
Section
1707 of
the
Federal
Criminal
Code
contain
the
policy
and laws
regulating
use of
all mail
transport
equipment.