State Rep. Bill Cunningham and Yellow Pages Publishers Collaborate to Promote Opt-Out Registry of Phone Book Delivery in Illinois

CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- State Rep. Bill Cunningham and Yellow Pages publishers today announced a comprehensive effort to spread awareness among Illinois residents and businesses about the ability to easily control the delivery of Yellow Pages directories at www.YellowPagesOptOut.com. This straightforward and easy-to-use site makes it simple for residents and businesses to choose which phone directories they want to receive, or stop delivery altogether.

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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. 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 directory delivery to their homes through a few clicks at www.YellowPagesOptOut.com.

"I'm encouraged that Yellow Pages publishers have developed a practical way for Illinois residents and businesses to limit or stop phone book delivery at www.YellowPagesOptOut.com," said Rep. Cunningham. "I look forward to helping Yellow Pages publishers raise visibility for this important resource that provides choice to Illinois constituents." 

Rep. Cunningham is partnering with publishers including Dex One, hibu, The Berry Company and SuperMedia to drive awareness of www.YellowPagesOptOut.com with elected officials, community organizations and the public. Earlier this year, Rep. Cunningham introduced legislation, HB 4588, regarding statewide directory opt-out registries, but after meeting with publishers offered support to the industry's national approach to consumer choice. The industry is committed to an aggressive public relations effort to help raise awareness about this accessible resource for consumers to opt-out of receiving directories.

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. Residents should note that requests take several weeks to process, so there is the possibility that changes in delivery preferences for directories approaching or currently in distribution may not be reflected until the next directory delivery cycle. The site is 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 helps ensure that distributors are delivering only those directories that will be welcome in homes and businesses while also reducing the environmental impact of unwanted directories.

"Yellow Pages publishers have nothing to gain by delivering unwanted directories," said Neg Norton, president of the Local Search Association.  "I applaud Rep. Cunningham for working with directory 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."

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.

• 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 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 percent 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
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 www.localsearchinsider.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LocalSearchAssn) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/LocalSearchAssn).  To choose which phone directories you receive or stop delivery, visit www.YellowPagesOptOut.com.

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

SOURCE Local Search Association