Re: Tampering with Mail-Is throwing away mail, tampering?

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I've been Googling "illegal throw away mail" and similar
expressions trying to find out if it is, in fact, illegal to
throw away mail sent to someone else -- e.g., typically, when
someone moves and mail is still received by new occupants at the
old address. This query regarding car tags is the only thing
I've been able to find. I live in a house of 15 people where
people move out every few years, and we forward their mail for
six months. However, we have assumed that it is not illegal to
throw this mail away, particularly not after six months. Is it
illegal to throw away such mail? Or, if so, is there a time
period after which it is not illegal? Certainly it seems odd
that some other person would be legally responsible for
someone's mail at an old address of theirs in perpetuity.
Nonetheless, I've been told by one of my housemates that it is
illegal to throw away such mail in Ireland, and so that's why
I'm asking. I live in Illinois, in case that makes a
difference. Thanks very much, Frank