Yellow Pages offers opt-out website for phone books



Don't want thick phone books delivered to your house anymore? The Yellow Pages industry is now offering an upgraded, user-friendly website to make it easier for consumers to opt-out or limit deliveries.

"Our industry is taking a giant leap forward today by launching a clearinghouse site for consumers to control the delivery of directories," Neg Norton, president of the Yellow Pages Association, said in announcing the site, which was co-developed with the Association of Directory Publishers. Norton said many consumers still use phone books and companies profit from their ads.

The revamped website comes amid increasing pressure to eliminate print directories. Nearly seven out of 10 U.S. adults rarely or ever use phone books, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll commissioned by WhitePages and its Ban the Phone Book initiative. The survey found 60% of online adults find contact information online (no surprise there!) and only 22% recycle their phone books. It found 87% support an opt-in where they would receive the phone book only if requested, up from 81% a year ago.

In its announcement Tuesday, Yellow Pages says it has reduced the amount of paper used in its directories 29% since 2006. It says the paper is either recycled or made from leftover wood chips, and publishers are using soy-based inks.

Readers: Have you opted-out of phone books?
 
 

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