5 ms·

Tell HN: The new yellow pages just got here -- and went straight to recycling

10 points by dctoedt 17y ago

A new hard-copy yellow pages book just showed up on our doorstep -- and for the Nth straight year, went directly into the recycling bag that's already on the sidewalk awaiting this morning's weekly pick-up. Surely there are better uses for the wood, electricity, gasoline, etc., that it took to produce and deliver the yellow pages. Maybe there should be an opt-out list.

maxdemarzi 17y ago
You just recycled an opportunity to show off to your friends by tearing it in half with your bear hands. ...and make manly noises while looking constipated...Grrrr
ugh 17y ago
In Germany you can pick up the yellow pages in public places (post offices), they aren’t delivered to you. So they can presumably print less because not nearly everyone is picking one up. Considering the yearly heaps of dead wood I still have the feeling that a lot of those books won’t fare much better than your copy.
- s2r2 17y ago
  Well, there was one on my doorstep (actually, there was a heap of them for all residents) so someone has delivered them here. I would care more about this dead wood issue if more than two of 12 households here would recycle _at all_ -- it's a shame.
aschobel 17y ago
I collected a few and used them to make a standing desk.
jacquesm 17y ago
there is this initiative: http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/ http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/ You can add your name here: http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/stop-yellow-pages/ http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/stop-yellow-pages/
SethWilson 17y ago
I agree it is a total waste. The reason everyone and their half brother gets one is because these directories sell the ads based on their "circulation". The more people they can claim to get the book, the higher rate they can charge for advertising. So as far as the Yellow Pages are concerned, they held up their end of the deal with their advertisers. Whether you read it or not wasn't part of the deal. A lot of these directories also offer a "combo" where you get advertising in the print edition and on a web site in order to bridge the 20th century and the 21st. So until companies stop spending their advertising dollars to be in the 'pages it will be some time before you stop receiving it.
SamAtt 17y ago
In fairness over 30% of Americans still don't have broadband access and a physical phone book might very well be faster than going through dial-up http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/23/fcc_broadband_survey/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/23/fcc_broadband_survey...
JacobAldridge 17y ago
The online directory business that aggressively offers to recycle every Yellow Pages in the country will garner that much publicity (at least, it will once the environment overtakes the economy again in terms of personal concern).

10 points by dctoedt 17y ago

maxdemarzi 17y ago

You just recycled an opportunity to show off to your friends by tearing it in half with your bear hands. ...and make manly noises while looking constipated...Grrrr

ugh 17y ago

In Germany you can pick up the yellow pages in public places (post offices), they aren’t delivered to you. So they can presumably print less because not nearly everyone is picking one up. Considering the yearly heaps of dead wood I still have the feeling that a lot of those books won’t fare much better than your copy.

s2r2 17y ago
Well, there was one on my doorstep (actually, there was a heap of them for all residents) so someone has delivered them here. I would care more about this dead wood issue if more than two of 12 households here would recycle _at all_ -- it's a shame.

aschobel 17y ago

I collected a few and used them to make a standing desk.

jacquesm 17y ago

there is this initiative: http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/ http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/ You can add your name here: http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/stop-yellow-pages/ http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/stop-yellow-pages/

SethWilson 17y ago

I agree it is a total waste. The reason everyone and their half brother gets one is because these directories sell the ads based on their "circulation". The more people they can claim to get the book, the higher rate they can charge for advertising. So as far as the Yellow Pages are concerned, they held up their end of the deal with their advertisers. Whether you read it or not wasn't part of the deal. A lot of these directories also offer a "combo" where you get advertising in the print edition and on a web site in order to bridge the 20th century and the 21st. So until companies stop spending their advertising dollars to be in the 'pages it will be some time before you stop receiving it.

SamAtt 17y ago

In fairness over 30% of Americans still don't have broadband access and a physical phone book might very well be faster than going through dial-up http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/23/fcc_broadband_survey/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/23/fcc_broadband_survey...

JacobAldridge 17y ago

The online directory business that aggressively offers to recycle every Yellow Pages in the country will garner that much publicity (at least, it will once the environment overtakes the economy again in terms of personal concern).