By Celsias
Posted on Dec. 31, 2011. Listed in:
So it seems that the use of the phone book is fast becoming a thing of the past. But much faster offshore than here.
18 states across the US are now (in at least some parts) only delivering white pages phone books to those who ask for them. San Francisco has even enacted “opt-in” legislation for the delivery of the yellow pages. While this is still less than 30% of the country, it is surely a step in the right direction. And actually much faster there than here.
As Banthephonebook.org say on their site an estimated 5 million trees are cut down each year to create white pages phone books and that according to a recent survey conducted with Harris Interactive , only 22% of recipients recycle when disposing of them, which explains why approximately 165,000 tons of waste end up in landfills?* In addition,their own survey shows that almost 75% of consumers are completely unaware of the environmental and financial impact in printing, delivering and recycling these books. Given that you likely use online directories, social networks and mobile phone applications to find the contact information you need, it simply does not make sense to have the white pages phone books forcefully delivered to us every year.
And the following infographic puts the point across well:
This all makes good sense. I haven't used a paper phone book in yonks but it is still delivered faithfully to my door. Can we opt out here?
Written in January 2012