AT&T is challenging customers to switch to paperless billing, and promises to help out the Arbor Day Foundation if customers follow through.

The telecommunications company is promising to plant a tree for each customer who signs up for paperless billing, with up to 1 million trees being planted this year.  Since March 1st, the company has nearly reached 14,000 new trees pledged for planting.

“AT&T’s commitment to planting trees is a shining example of how corporations can make a positive impact on our environment,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees planted by AT&T will help clean the air and drinking water for millions of Americans, restore habitat for wildlife and restore our nation’s forests for future generations to enjoy.”

To opt in to paperless billing and activate the tree planting, AT&T customers can go to www.att.com/paperfree (registration requires) and follow the instructions. After enrolling, they can choose to have a tree planted where there is the greatest need — or they can choose between regions of the U.S. that have various needs for reforestation.  As examples, in California this helps provide clean drinking water, and in Michigan, it protects rare birds.

It also protects AT&T’s bottom line – printing and mailing paper bills can cost more than $1 per customer per month — even more if call detail records run several pages.

Many telecommunications companies have found other ways to discourage paper bills – charging consumers extra to receive them.  Paper billing fees of $2 per month or more are not uncommon if a customer is unwilling to accept electronic statements.  AT&T hopes a voluntary switch to electronic billing in return for reforestation efforts will make it worthwhile for customers.

According to PayItGreen, a corporate-funded electronic billing advocacy group, if a million customers switch to paperless billing, it would save 400,000 pounds of paper, avoid six million pounds of greenhouse gases, and prevent four million gallons of wastewater from discharging into lakes, streams, and rivers in a year.