Comments on: The phone book problem

By: Sheri

Sheri — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:57:11 +0000

I keep one in my van. Last time I called info from my cell phone, it cost me $4! So, I always have the number of the restaurant where I want to call ahead and order dinner. AND a big plus, I can’t look it up while driving, so the kids get extra alphabetization practice. Win/win. Then, we don’t use charcoal lighter (or gas grills), so these are great for lighting the grill when they’re old. Another plus, if it’s breezy, the wind won’t blow away your paper.

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 04:45:40 +0000

Ever wanted to make a hollow book? Now’s your chance! Use your old phonebook – most people expect a hollow book to be a classic or textbook…

By: Idea

Idea — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:02:28 +0000

Put up a sign saying no telephone directories needed.
Get a life and don’t waste energy bringing them back. Make a list for the people that complain that they don’t get one

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:09:13 +0000

I hate seeing those phonebooks (in a plastic bag!) on my porch. They don’t even make it into the house – they go right into recycling.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:37:15 +0000

I use them to make pressed flowers and when they get too yucky, I recycle them. But shredding them for compost is a good idea too.

By: Inki

Inki — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:15:00 +0000

I like the German system too, sounds like a great way to save paper! Here in Norway, we have an opt-out system where you can register your name and address online with the phone company (we only have one) if you don’t want the book, and you get a reminder notice a couple weeks before they would be distributed to make sure your name is properly marked on the door so they won’t deliver it to you by mistake. I would prefer an opt-in system, though, since I’m sure a lot of people just don’t bother to opt out even if they don’t want the book.

By: Alex Ireland

Alex Ireland — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:53:49 +0000

Consumers can “opt out” of receiving telephone books at http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org. They will contact the publishers and inform them to stop delivering books. This is a free service for consumers. http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org is working with state and local governments on ordinances concerning the delivery of unsolicited telephone books. http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org is not against the telephone books but against the delivery of 4 to 5 pounds of paper on people’s door step 5 to 6 times per year and being told it is our responsibility to recycle something we did not ask for. If we need a book we will call. Otherwise I “opt out” from receiving it.

By: Maggie

Maggie — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:16:16 +0000

Germany has the right idea, but I like all the suggestions for alternative uses. Here’s another one recommended to my 9 year old for anger management: tear the phone book in half. Once, when extremely angry, I heard her yell from her bedroom “I need ANOTHER phone book!”

By: verily

verily — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:18:45 +0000

I wish the phonebooks would stop arriving. We haven’t had a landline in years, but I still seem to get new phonebooks 3 or 4 times a year.

I tried the recycling bin outside the church and it specifically said “No phonebooks”. I was flabbergasted. Isn’t it just paper??

By: Robin L.

Robin L. — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:23:54 +0000

I got rid of the landline and went to cell phone only. The phone books stopped arriving, too, making it a double whammy against clutter. I got rid of all the old phones and the phone books!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:11:11 +0000

Many schools and churches have bins outside for recycling and use this as a way to earn extra money. Why not drive by and recycle your yellow books there?

By: Thom

Thom — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:05:16 +0000

I’m Australian and there are some good recycling options here, but the German system sounds the most sensible to me!

Apart from a very slim local area yellow/white pages (half an inch thick, just my suburb and the surrounding ones) I haven’t looked at a phone book for years – not at work, not at home. The local one is handy for its maps and some local services – I might consult it once or twice a year.

But this post has prompted me to go count the big two-volume sets (I live in a big capital city) that I have, still unwrapped: Two sets of yellow pages and two sets of white pages.

Why do I keep them? I rent, so the most recent sets are stashed in the bottom of the closet. When I happen to move out they’re there as a courtesy for the next tenant. And the older sets? Each two-volume set is about 3.5 inches (9 cm) thick unwrapped and they make a very nice footrest for when I’m working at my desk. By the time my feet have shredded the plastic covering on both sides of the package then it’s time to bung it in the recycling and bring out the next set.

By: James

James — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:59:31 +0000

When we moved to south King County, we received the wrong phone books. When we called, we were provided with the correct ones. So we were responsible for two of the phone books we received. But in the first 13 months, we had received 14 phone books from three or four different companies, none of whom provided us with phone service. I finally took them all and dumped them in the recycling bin when the shelf started to bow. I love the idea, though, of keeping them in the car and delivering them back to the phone company.

I just don’t see a way to get off the delivery schedule since they contract out to low paid workers who just fill their pickups and drive through the neighborhood hitting everyone.

By: DJ

DJ — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:01:08 +0000

I give them to my rabbits as chew toys, and once they are shredded, I put the paper into our recycling bin, which the city picks up every two weeks.

When we first moved to this city, we were amazed to received 18 different phone books within two weeks. Eighteen! I mean, gee whiz!

By: l3j

l3j — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:22:20 +0000

Last year I found a number on or in the Verizon phone book, called them, and got off the list. I didn’t receive one this year, so I believe it worked. Anyone here try calling and asking them not to give you one?

By: Lady Tawodi

Lady Tawodi — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:32:04 +0000

As others have said:
http://www.wisebread.com/opt-o.....y-industry

By: Shiela

Shiela — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:00:03 +0000

I use mine (we get 3) to stack on a chair for my grandson who is 2 to sit on when eating at the dining room table.

Then we just recycle the old ones when new ones arrive.

I like the idea of taking them to businesses and schools. And I do use them for packing as well.

I am not quite 65 but I understand the generational philosophy behind using the phone book and not using the phone book.

It makes a great door stop! What about using the pages for mulch?!

By: Martina

Martina — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:11:47 +0000

In Germany, the problem is handled like this: Everybody gets a postcard from the phone company that the new phone books are available. Those who don’t want one can just throw the card away. Those who do want one can pick one up – they are avialable for free in large stacks at many gas stations, post offices etc., usually not far from people. Something similar should be possible in the US, maybe cooperating with the large grocery stores and gas stations. Everybody has got to get gas or groceries once in a while, after all. After some years of doing this the phone companies should be able to learn how many books are actually wanted in what areas, so in the long run they might be able to save. Distribution costs should also drop, so there is something in this system for the phone companies, too.

By: Annalea

Annalea — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:41:44 +0000

I’ve read that they make great toilet paper in a pinch. So, stack ‘em somewhere, and use them to barter when the world falls apart (as all of the worried crowd say will happen any day now ;o).

By: Celeste

Celeste — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:39:31 +0000

Recycle. I can NOT be bothered trying to find alternative uses for something that never even served a purpose to me.