Commingling optimization of mail

A method for the nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs, comprising the steps:

• a) diverting a first set of mail items at a pre-sort facility that creates a first set of mail items and a first set of associated data;
• b) generating a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data at a print and mail manufacture facility;
• c) receiving said first set of mail items and said first set of associated data from said pre-sort facility;
• and
• d) commingling said first set of diverted mail items with said second set of manufactured mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to said first and second sets of associated data to produce reduced postal mailing costs in mailing the commingled mail items.

A mail item processing system for nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs, comprising:

• a) a plurality of pre-sort facilities, wherein each pre-sort facility creates a first set of diverted mail items and a first set of associated data;
• b) a print and mail manufacture facility that generates a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data and receives said first set of diverted mail items and first set of associated data from each of said pre-sort facilities;
• and
• c) means for commingling said first and second sets of mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to said first and second sets of associated data to produce commingled mail items which reduces postal costs in mailing the commingled mail items.

A method for the nationwide commingling of mail items to increase efficiency and lower mailing costs, comprising the steps:

• a) diverting a first set of mail items at a plurality of pre-sort facilities that creates a first set of mail items and a first set of associated data;
• b) generating a second set of manufactured mail items and a second set of associated data at a print and mail manufacture facility;
• c) receiving said first set of mail items and said first set of associated data from said pre-sort facilities;
• and
• d) commingling said first set of diverted mail items with said second set of manufactured mail items according to a predetermined set of commingling rules applied to said first and second sets of associated data to produce reduced postal mailing costs in mailing the commingled mail items.