Last weekend, Back Bay homes had piles of unwanted phone books dumped on their front steps. The photo above is a single family home, so you can imagine how many were left at buildings with 40 or 60 apartments.
How do Bostonians feel about this topic?
Click over to Universal Hub, and read the comments on the post, Our annual mid-winter ritual: The rotting of the abandoned phone books. Adam Gaffin also links to his 2008 and 2009 phone book conversations.
This week he took a poll. We got two different phonebooks yesterday – which to toss in the recycling? Go over and add your vote!
Did you know that you can opt-out of having phone books delivered to your home?
In response to complaints, the Association of Directory Publishers has set up an opt-out program at this site, www.yellowpagesoptout.com. We're making this site our Friday Link!
You do have to register, and then you can opt-out of the phone books from those businesses that belong to this group. We were able to elimate three deliveries with one visit.
Of course, if you live in a multi-family home, you will have to encourage your neighbors to join you in the opt-out effort.
Wider Pilot Progam Underway
The good news is that Brookline and Cambridge are working with the Product Stewardship Institute and Catalog Choice on a pilot opt-out project. The test will make it possible for residents to stop the delivery of unwanted phone books, catalogs, coupons, and credit card solicitations. It will also measure the number of requests and program efficiency. The Product Stewardship Institute will issue a project report in the fall of 2012.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Penny Cherubino
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