Recycling Phone Books
This is the time
of year that those paper Yellow Books appear in our driveways.
Did you know that phonebooks create about 660,000 tons of trash
every year? Take your name off the mailing list on YellowPagesGoesGreen>>.
Instead,
why not "Google" the information and get name, address, telephone
number, and even maps and directions right at your fingertips.
Do you need info from your cell phone? Text Google by sending
a text message to 466453 (which stands for Google on most phones)
with business name and zip code, and you'll get the number and
address texted back to you. For a list of useful shortcuts and
tips, text message "help" to 466453 ("GOOGLE").
Facts About Phone
Books from Earth911>>
Telephone directories, or phone books, are in every American
household. We usually get two or more each year.
Despite the increase of internet based telephone number
directories, the production of phone books is on the rise. Here
are some facts to get you thinking about how important it is to
recycle your phone books.
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On average, 660,000 tons of phone books end up in landfills
every year.
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There are enough phone books created each year to measure
106,700 miles when lined up end to end. This means they
would circle around the earth about 4.28 times!
-
By recycling just 500 books, we could save between 17 and 31
trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 463 gallons of oil, 587
pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space
and 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy according to the American
Forest & Paper Association
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About 80 percent of all U.S. paper mills use some recycled
material in their manufacturing service. It is estimated
that about 200 mills use ONLY recycled material.
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There are over 7,000 different titles of yellow pages.
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540 million telephone directories are distributed each year.
Despite the fact that phone books are
sometimes not considered recyclable, this is not true. While the
spines may be trashed, the pages are 100 percent recyclable and
are often used to make new phone books. Use Earth911 to find out
where to recycle phone books>>.
Tips for Recycling
Phone Books from Earth 911>>
What
do you do with a telephone directory once it has expired? On
average, we tend to get about two new phone books per year.
Here’s how to handle your obsolete phone books.
Check your community programs. Many local
and state recycling facilities now accept them, possibly even
through your curbside program. Find out where you can recycle phone books using Earth911. Telephone directories are recycled into new
directories, as well as:
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Roofing surfaces
-
Insulation materials
-
Grocery bags
-
Paper towels
Remove contaminants. Any restrictions on phone book recycling
are due to the fact that your phone book is generally littered
with material that can contaminate the recycling process, such
as magnets and plastics. It is best to be sure you check with
your local and state guidelines for recycling to ensure you have
prepped your phone book properly before tossing it in a bin.
Compost the content. Shred the pages and use in your garden to
help keep weeds down. The paper is biodegradable and will
eventually break down.
Get creative with Reuse. Use the whole
book as a booster seat; simply cover it with the fabric of your
choice and seal the seams with fabric glue or a needle and
thread. Use the bulky directories to dry leaves and flowers.
Shredded phone book pages can also be used as a substitute for packing peanuts,
which are not biodegradable.
