Does anyone else think that phone books are a huge waste of paper & money? And, where can they be recycled?

Question

I used to live in an apartment complex and find a set of 5 phone books on my doorstep 1-2 times per year! And, I would save them thinking I'd find a place to recycle them, but then every paper and magazine recycling bin I ever saw would say "no phonebooks." I would end up throwing them away and feel bad about it, but then angry at the Phone Co. for giving them out. And, here's the worst thing...I haven't even had a land line for the last 3 years!!!
They just put one on every apt. doorstep.

So, the question is where can you recycle them?

Answer 1

Totally! My apartment has a big bin for papergoods, so I can place them in there. Call whoever collects your garbage, they most likely have a local/city contact for a place that will take them. It's such a waste!

Answer 2

There are some people who use them ,don't you know anyone who doesn't believe in using modern tech? There are a lot who think they'll get sucked into the machine, which has happened already , not literally mind you but they have a right to live more simply . The dreaded paper waste which is mostly an advertisement has the info to recycle itself usually in fine print in the front or back of the book.Thanks for caring about recycling !

Answer 3

I agree with you, they are especially now a days, however, the other day at work someone actually came in and asked me for one, they were looking up an address. WOW I was amazed. I gave them one of the 20 books we have stored.

I know that if you throw them in your re-cycling bin at home, they will take them. They are printed on newsprinte and our city takes all that stuff. Mags and all. Oh, I have been working at this place for 5 years now....the first person to come in ...Wonder what the cost per book is per person that uses it.

Answer 4

Just because you don't use them doesn't mean everyone else doesn't also.. Not everyone has Internet to look up information.
Besides, the Internet does not contain half of the phone numbers most phone books do. I will go to multiple sites to try and find a number, to end up going back to a phone book just to look.
Many small businesses advertise themselves in phone books because they cannot afford TV commercials and better advertisement.

Where can you recycle them?
How about burn them in a fireplace. Use it as kindling for a fire or barbecue. Donate them to wannabe professional athletes who rip them up as a show of strength. Make papiermaché with your kids.

Answer 5

Any place which recycles paper. We didn't get ours this year and they mailed 3 to us for $16 - their cost. They do mass distribution so they can tell advertisers how many homes they make.
If you don't know where paper recycle points are -- look it up in the ...(You saw this coming, I know)...yellow pages!

Answer 6

The answer to that problem would be to have the companies that charge us an arm and a leg for phone service to quit giving them out like Halloween candy and only give them to those that want them. However, they are huge monopolies who don't give a crap about saving money or wasting trees.

Answer 7

they are a massive waste but they are ADVERTISER driven ( which means they don't care - these are the people who would paint ads on the MOON if they could )

look in the PHONE BOOK for LOCAL recycling centers ( WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU ARE YOU KNOW ! LOL )

Answer 8

call the company and ask for a recycling site and if there isnt one ask why. in australia the scouts get the cash for collecting and recycling the old ones

Answer 9

My Homies Think there' a Waste of Money too.. But not Paper those Bastards roll They Mary Jane up in Those B*itches Son

Answer 10

Not if placed under a school desk for use as a bullet shield!!! Donate them to a school and explain that intention!