Since they are delivering these to people weather they want them or not, there should be a law, requiring them to go back and pick them up after 5 days. They are nothing but an eyesore. Many people don't want them, and don't want to be stuck having to bring them to a recycle center, just leave them out by the side of the road.

I agree Michael. I know I should probably keep one around, but the amount of paper wasted really bothers me. If I had a fireplace, I'd try and learn how to make a firelog out of them.

We put out our phone books for recycling and the town left them on our curb. Apparently the paper quality is so low that they have little value as recycling material. I think it may be time for the phone company to publish the phone book as a web site, or for those who don't have an internet connection, deliver a CD to each recipient's door, rather than books that none of the recyclers will take.

I would use the phone book if I could get one. I remember a time when the phone book had white pages with everybody's number in it, and yellow pages. You could look up a number with out having to pay directory assistance for a wrong number. Now, phone books are broken up into regions and designed so that the number you want is in some other book. I believe this is done to force you to call directory assistance, and pay a fee.

I still use a wired telephone (I have a heart monitor connected to it) that also boosts the volume as I wear hearing aids.
As a Secretary or Treasurer for many NPOs, I still use the phonebooks to search for local places of business. Just this week I had to have some keys made so I let my fingers do the walking. Last week I took my wife out for dinner and again did my homework by using the Yellow Pages.
If the company that was employed to distribute the directories did their job, then the set would be at the door of each office and not in a pile outside.
I still find them quite valuable for Government and Medical numbers as well as emergency help.
As for me, my cell phone is for emergency use, as it is not a smart phone and cost me nothing to own or use.
If I must recycle the books, doing so once a year is not a big burden. So what is the big deal?

I haven't used a hard copy YP-type directory in years. It has long bothered me to see those withering and decaying yellow bags sprinkled throughout the community. It also felt like a contradiction to me that the publishers also replicate their book online. I feel bad for those whose advertising investment is based on circulation. But I know there are still those in the population that either do not have a computer and/or internet access. For these folks, I believe that the hard copy is still essential. Suggestion: the directory people should deliver only to those who 'opt in,' and some kind of better controls on circulation drops should be exercised.

Haven't opened one in years. Internet connection is all you need to find anything in this day and age. However, a regional yellow page I guess would be of some value when Internet is unavailable.

I keep trying to use the yellow pages but usually what I am looking for is not in there so I go to the internet. I find the internet is best for business searches, but worthless for white pages. Most of the time the (WhitePages.com) residence listing does not show a phone number (unlisted perhaps?) or can only be gotten through a paid subsciption to People Finder. Unfortunately, for residence info, the 411 operator is my most successful venue. I vote for being able to "opt out" of the hard copies.

Haven't opened one in years. Like the person up top said, as soon as it comes to my house, we put it in the recycle.. The #'s I want are always in a different book..

YP's business model is a dinosaur...they need to stop polluting the world with these useless things and do what everyone else in the world does: use the Internet!
They littered my property with these things even though I've asked them NOT to "deliver" them.

OK you folks with the need for a smart phone. How do you get a replacement recycle bin for home in Milford? Or you were given a seat in section 105 of the Harbor Yard Arena, just where are you located? I find the yellow pages quicker than using my home computer.

I keep my phone book above the fridge - emergency use only. Like if the power goes out and I don't have internet and I really need to look something up. I can't remember the last time I flipped through it - maybe when I first moved here? Usually I look online because it's quick and provides more information (ie location, number, directions, reviews). Still, I don't think it's a bad thing to have for when the power's down and I need emergency Thai food....either way, no strong feelings about it. I don't mind recycling it every year, but I wouldn't really miss it if it was all electronic.

I have not used one in years and I am not likely too, but we do keep a copy of the local ones on hand, otherwise we recycle them. I do believe however as other folks have suggested that we get an option if we want them or not and/or required them to pick them up after so many days. Sometimes it migth be faster than the computer, but in my house the compture stays on more than not so it is not that big a deal.

I have found errors on the yellow pages site; for instance, a business based in Trumbull was listed as Fairfield. Still, the internet is a better resource, so many businesses have websites. I leave my pc on all day, and with wi-fi, there's no waiting. I do agree with the power outage dilemma...let's not say those words!! Then again, with the last two, everyone was down, so calling for take-out would have been a moot point.

Another suggestion for the publishers: If they insist on continuing to public hard copies, then right after the delivery of their new versions, they should have a community collection drop with a cheerfully decorated mini-bin located someplace central that people can drop their outdated books. Then they should arrange to manage the recycle process themselves. I saw this done in the U.S. Virgin Islands by a yellow pages publisher, and it was a great PR tool for the publishing company to manage disposal of their outdated directories in this manner.

I wish they would stop giving us the phone books Mine hit the garbage ASAP
only one i keep is a very old one over 20 yrs old I look every thing up on the Internet
Big wast of paper and trees

Do any of you know where I could obtain a free smartphone with no monthly charges? My cell phone is that way. My wired phone at home also has an $8/mo disability discount. But where do I go on the internet to look up personal phone numbers?

The yellow pages delivered today has an "opt out " note right on the cover. It's yellowpagesoptout.com they must have read this thread.

I find it's quicker to use the phone book than to use the computer. But, the computer is useful for out of area numbers.

I agree with all of the above. Some people do want them, many dont, Books were delivered on my street a week and a half ago. They are still there! MOST people don't want them, and don't want to be bothered with having to bring them to the recycle center. So what do they do with them? NOTHING! The house across from me is vacant, and the books are accumulating. So what, I have to look at the mess, or deal with it myself? How about some common sense by the people delivering them. If the previous delivery is still on the ground, DON'T add to it! One would think Town administrators would want something done about the liter!

I just got mine and opted out. If you don't want it delivered go to this site http://www.yellowpagesoptout.com/

You will not receive a yellow pages anymore.

Here's a cool reuse of phone books: Alex Queral carves portraits into them with incredible skill -- http://www.projectsgallery.com/Queral.htm

And if you're feeling motivated -- with some extra time on your hands -- here's a link to an article on how to turn a phone book into a pen organizer: http://www.chicaandjo.com/2009/02/24/recycle-phone-book-into-pen-organizer/

Our neighbor Karen runs a business making custom paper maché piñatas. We gave her all of our surplus phone books for this dragon http://pulpparlour.com/GreenDragonPinata.html
The quality of the paper may not be suitable for recycling but it's great for paper maché.