Hawaii Consumers and Businesses Can Control Phone Book Delivery

HONOLULU, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Three committee chairs of the Hawaii State Legislature as well as Yellow Pages publishers are reminding Hawaii consumers and business owners that they can easily control the delivery of Yellow Pages directories by visiting www.YellowPagesOptOut.com. This straightforward and easy-to-use website makes it simple for Hawaii residents to choose which phone directories they want to receive or stop delivery altogether.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110418/NY84627LOGO )

Many consumers rely on print Yellow Pages to make purchases that support millions of small businesses and the local economy. Others prefer to use the increasing number of digital and mobile solutions offered by directory publishers. For 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.

"Hawaii residents who do not want to receive a phone book can opt-out using this simple online tool," said state Sen. Rosalyn Baker, chairwoman of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee. "I'm encouraged that Yellow Pages publishers have joined together to create a system that ensures those who want a directory to buy from local businesses have access to their information while those who want to limit phone book delivery to their home can easily do so."

"Hawaii residents recognize the importance of being good stewards of our beautiful environment," said state Sen. Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee. "This website, www.YellowPagesOptOut.com, provides everyone with choices so that phone books are only delivered to those who want them."

"Yellow Pages companies are taking responsibility for their environmental footprint through programs aimed at limiting the number of directories distributed to only those who will use them," said state Rep. Denny Coffman, chairman of the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee. "We appreciate that publishers are trying to ensure that Hawaii residents and business owners are educated about the availability of www.YellowPagesOptOut.com."

Residents who wish to limit or stop delivery of directories should visit www.YellowPagesOptOut.com. This opt-out website address is displayed prominently on the covers of Hawaiian Telcom directories and Yellowbook Paradise Pages.  The site is free.  Information provided through the site will not be shared with anyone other than directory publishers for the purpose of updating distribution lists.

Requests should be submitted at least 12 weeks in advance of directory delivery in order to ensure adequate time for processing. Requests to limit or stop delivery of the Hawaiian Telcom directories or Yellowbook Paradise Pages, currently in distribution, will not be processed until the next delivery cycle.

"Yellow Pages companies have nothing to gain by delivering unwanted phone directories," said Neg Norton, president of the Local Search Association. "I applaud our partners in the Hawaii State Legislature for working with publishers to get the word out about this valuable resource. Through our joint efforts, we can ensure directory delivery is customized to each household's preference."

Hawaii residents and business owners can also opt-out of directory delivery by phone by calling The Berry Company at 808-836-9550 through January 31 and Yellowbook at 1-800-929-3556.

Local Programs Enable Consumers to Easily Recycle Directories
Local Yellow Pages publishers are committed to ensuring that phone books are recycled.

The Berry Company, which publishes the Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages, will kick off its annual recycling program on January 20.  Residents can visit www.thinkyellowgogreen.com for specific information on 2012 drop-off locations.

Over the past several years, Berry has expanded its recycling program in Hawaii, and communities have responded positively.  Last year's campaign set an annual record, with more than 85 tons of outdated phone books collected for recycling.  Three hundred tons of outdated phone books have been recycled through the program over the past three years. Berry partnered with All Rolloff Services, Island Shell LLC, the Lokahi Giving Project and four area shopping malls to carry out a five-weekend recycling effort in Oahu. The collected outdated phone directories, which were dropped off by residents at the participating shopping malls, were converted into environmentally safe products, such as vehicle oil change kits, mulch and wall insulation to be re-used locally.

The Berry Company and Yellowbook are also stepping up their efforts to retrieve unused directories at local apartment and condominium buildings.  Berry is proactively contacting an increasing number of managers at large multi-dwelling buildings to schedule times to pick up unused directories, and will also pick up at these buildings on request by calling 808-836-9550 through January 31.  Yellowbook's distributors currently provide management offices for all condominium and apartment buildings at which they deliver with information on how to contact the company to pick up unused phone books whether they are Yellowbook's directories or others. Additionally, Yellowbook conducts automatic "sweeps" for unused phone books at residential buildings with 100 units or more within one week of a delivery.

Industry Sustainability Program Delivers Positive Outcomes
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.

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 the industry will use 50 percent less paper by the end of 2012 than they did at peak usage in 2007. 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.
• According to the 2009 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Municipal Solid Waste report, directories are 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.
• In the recently released 2010 EPA Municipal Solid Waste report, the EPA has chosen to stop measuring directories separately from newspapers, further signaling the minor impact of directories on municipal waste.  With the proliferation of curbside recycling, more than 71% of the paper used in directories, newspapers and similar products is being recycled.
• 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.

About the Local Search Association
Formerly the Yellow Pages Association, the Local Search Association (www.LocalSearchAssociation.org) is the largest trade organization of print, digital, mobile and social media that help local businesses get found and selected by ready-to-buy consumers.  Association members include U.S. and international directory publishers, search engine marketers, online listings and review sites, digital advertising agencies and mobile search providers. The Association has members in 29 countries.

Read the Local Search Association blog at www.LocalSearchInsider.com and follow @LocalSearchAssn on Twitter. To learn more about Yellow Pages advertising, visit www.BuyYellow.com. To choose which phone books you receive or stop delivery of all directories, visit www.YellowPagesOptOut.com.

CONTACT:
David Fishman
Fleishman-Hillard
212-453-2115
[email protected]

SOURCE Local Search Association