Thanks for pointing me to that site (YellowPagesGoesGreen). I was very impressed with the idea and government action ideas. I propose that the YP industry send me a postcard with a sticker on it the week before they plan to harass my neighborhood. I can place the sticker on my mailbox IF I WANT a book. So the distributor walking down the street can see if the sticker is on the mailbox. If it is give me one. If not keep walking.

Just another view but I do like that opt out site.

Edward

My appreciation and keep up the good work!

Consumers can “opt out” of receiving telephone books at http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org. This organization will contact the publishers and inform them to stop delivering books. This is a free service for consumers.

Or you can call them at the following numbers and tell them. Not sure how well this works but it looks good for them to state they offer this.

— ATT/ Yellow Pages: 1-800-479-2977
— Verizon: 800-555-4833, press 4, then 5, then 2
— DEX: 1-877-243-8339, press 2
— Yellow Book: 1-800-929-3556, press 2

Also to others: check out the 4/2 MSNBC story featuring Paul’s site. I’m glad to see names bigger than me are recognizing this issue.

When Denver architect Paul needs a phone number he jumps on the Internet. Even so, he still got a pile of them at his office from three different companies. “That’s ridiculous!” he says. Paul is so upset about the waste, he’s launched a Web site: stopthephonebooks.com.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23922427/

We have started a website for an opt-in in Denver. Then the only people who want phonebooks get phonebooks.

http://www.stopthephonebooks.com

Since writing this a month ago I’ve received yet another dump at my doorstep. I actually kept these since by niece Lili may be visiting soon and might need a booster seat at the dinner table.

I would say the only people using phone books reside in non Wi-Fi equipped caves or retirement centers – however local news tells me today’s seniors are computer literate, savvy in e-mail, and go Wii bowling., so I certainly wouldn’t insult the intelligence of my elders by saying they’re incapable of using the internet. (So long as McAfee Pro is installed and running)

I appreciate what you said. Keep up the good work.

“Distribution” is just that — total number of books distributed. “Disposal” can’t be actually measured — was it this years book, last years (yes, my wife tends to save them for years — don’t know why but she does). But the volume of those rejecting books is no where near the 20% you are suggesting.

As this is about “advertising”, it’s not measured much differently in any other media:
1) TV extrapolates eyeballs but doesn’t account for people multi-tasking and not actually watching the ads (if you watched TV last night — quick — name one commercial you actually saw — what was the product and the company???)
2) radio counts cars traveling in an area and merges some demographics and provides a count
3) newspaper/magazines/etc do same thing with audited delivery.

Every advertiser knows this about advertising (“80% is wasted, I just don’t which 80%”). That’s why even the smallest business keeps track on how their business comes in. They then do their own ROI because it really doesn’t matter if a zillion books are delivered — is my ad making my phone ring and generating business is all that matters. And print yellow pages does that. Not my opinion. Fact. And many of the telephone numbers in those ads are unique to that book — so there would no way for the buyer to reach the business unless they looked at the books.

Good dialog. thanks for the opportunity to respond

The fact that news outlets and newspapers are covering this, in addition to my small local blog, proves that its an issue people care about in our environmentally conscious society.

I do appreciate you reading. I never got an answer (from my previous post,) on my question about advertising. Are circulation numbers, (which are used for ad rates,) based on DISTRIBUTION? Or are they somehow whittled down to actual customer USE.

Point being – if myself, other consumers, and businesses choose to dispose of just 20% of the phone books thrown about the city that’s a huge discrepency. I can’t see how its ethical to use the total distribution number in front of a client.

Is the “disposal” factor taken into account?

All the best – james…

I’m happy for you. You finally got this difficult life issue off your chest and resolved.

Regarding those books you don’t want that are in fact used nearly 14 billion times a year by others, next time you are in North Carolina, drop them off. I’d be more than happy to recycle them for you.

Peace be with you.

Ken Clark