Each year, more than 650,000 tons of phone books are delivered to households across the United States, and a large percentage goes unused. While a third of all phone books are recycled, 410,000 tons still find their way to landfills or incinerators, costing taxpayers about $60 million each year in management costs. Phone book recycling also presents operational challenges as directories are often distributed with materials that contaminate the recycling process (e.g., magnets and plastics). In addition, unused phone books represent a waste of natural resources and create negative environmental impacts through disposal and recycling. The unnecessary production, transport, and recycling or disposal of paper also emits greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.

While directory publishers launched an industry opt out-site in February 2011 (www.yellowpagesoptout.com), it currently lacks transparency and official oversight, and therefore does not guarantee that your choice will be honored.

The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) is currently providing technical support to state and local governments introducing phone books legislation, which would require directory publishers to provide this much needed transparency and oversight of opt-out programs.

By signing this petition, you are letting legislators know that you believe that directory publishers should provide residents and businesses with a transparent and effective method for opting out of phone book delivery. PSI intends to provide the list of petition signatories to legislators that want to correct this problem.

Your signature will help reduce the proliferation of unwanted phone books, conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and stop the use of taxpayer dollars to manage an industry problem.

You have a choice! Take action today!

To find out more information on PSI’s work on phone books and how else you can take action on this issue, please visit the PSI website.