Senator Duff: Consumers May Opt Out of Phone Book Delivery by Going Online

State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) joined with Yellow Pages publishers to remind Connecticut consumers and businesses that they can easily control the delivery of Yellow Pages directories by visiting www.YellowPagesOptOut.com. This straightforward and easy-to-use site makes it simple for Connecticut residents to choose which phone directories they want to receive, or to stop delivery altogether.

“Phone books are extremely useful tools, and have been connecting local residents to businesses and to each other for decades. Yet many people now prefer to use the internet for this purpose, and for them a printed phone book is unnecessary and unwanted. I am glad that Yellow Pages has set up a website where those who wish may opt out of delivery. Everyone who wants a phone book will still receive one, and those who don’t may opt out. Everybody wins,” said Senator Duff.

The issue of unwanted phone books was discussed at the General Assembly this year during the course of the 2014 legislative session. In lieu of passing legislation, Senator Duff is working with phone book publishers to help promote voluntary methods of dealing with unwanted print directories.
Many consumers rely on print Yellow Pages to make purchases that support local businesses and the local economy, and others prefer to use the increasing number of digital and mobile solutions offered by directory publishers. To provide those who prefer to only use online tools, Yellow Pages publishers are actively educating consumers about how they can easily stop or limit phone book delivery to their homes through a few clicks at www.YellowPagesOptOut.com.

Residents who wish to limit or stop delivery of directories should visit www.YellowPagesOptOut.com and submit their requests as soon as possible to ensure receipt in advance of future delivery cycles. The site is effective and free – and information provided through the site will not be shared with anyone other than directory publishers for the purpose of updating distribution lists. When consumers use this site to customize their household delivery, it ensures that distributors are delivering only those directories that will be welcome in homes and businesses while also reducing the environmental impact of unwanted phone books.

“Yellow Pages companies have nothing to gain by delivering unwanted directories,” said Neg Norton, president of the Local Search Association. “I applaud Senator Duff for working with publishers to help get the word out about this valuable resource. Through our joint efforts, we can ensure directory delivery is customized to each household’s preference.”
Connecticut residents can also opt-out of phone book delivery by phone by calling hibü (the publisher of Yellowbook directories) at (877) 613-1095 and YP at (866) 329-7118.

Through an industry wide sustainability program, the industry has not only improved delivery choice options for consumers, but also increased recycling rates and reduced paper usage.

Yellow Pages publishers have made substantial reductions in paper usage. Paper suppliers project that paper usage decreased 58% between 2007-2012 and was projected to reach more than 60% by the end of 2013.This decrease has been driven by changes in the size of directories, more efficient manufacturing, an industry-sponsored effort to reduce printed residential white pages, a general decline in the number of directories distributed, and the Consumer Choice website.The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest Municipal Solid Waste report (2012) reported that the paper category including newspapers, directories, and other mechanical papers maintains a high recycling rate of 70%. 

In an earlier EPA Municipal Solid Waste report, directories were the smallest contributor of paper and paperboard products to the solid waste stream, representing only 0.3 percent – significantly less than all other paper product categories, including newspapers (3.2 percent), office paper (2.2 percent) and standard mail (1.9 percent). Since then, the EPA has chosen to stop measuring directories altogether, further signaling the minor impact of directories on municipal waste. 

The industry continues to print on paper that is manufactured from a combination of recycled paper waste and leftover scraps of sawdust and woodchips from lumber production processes whenever available. Publishers have also turned to soy-based and non-toxic inks, glues and dyes used in printing and production processes. 

The Consumer Choice website, www.YellowPagesOptout.com, is managed in collaboration with the Association of Directory Publishers, a Massachusetts not-for-profit corporation.