Bay-area senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) recently introduced a bill known as SB 920 that would reverse a current law requiring telephone companies to automatically deliver White Pages to California homes. In an effort to cut paper waste and save energy, the new legislation would require telephone companies to get consent from customers before delivering White Pages directories to their homes. Yee argues that phone books have become obsolete and wasteful.

While the above news story highlights that the Yellow Pages still receive upwards of 14 billion references a year, it fails to address that the Yellow Pages industry has gone to great lengths to deliver environment-friendly products. The news story quotes that “more than a million trees are cut down for directories, one-third of that for White Pages alone.” However, according to the YPA, virgin trees are rarely, if ever, cut down for the sole purpose of making directories.

In addition to using upwards of 40 percent recycled paper, directory paper contains fibers primarily composed of by-products of sawmills. These wood chips left over from cut lumber are converted to paper pulp, instead of being burned or dumped into landfills. In addition, many publishers have opted to use soy-based inks and other nontoxic dyes, rather than the more-harmful petroleum-based inks. These non-toxic inks pose no threat to soil or groundwater, in the event they would end up in a landfill.

Currently, most of the large Yellow Pages publishers offer opt-out options of their Yellow Pages delivery. Consumers can simply call or visit a publisher’s website to stop the delivery of a given directory. In addition, the YPA created a website where consumers can request to stop receiving directories or adjust the ones they receive.

The Yellow Pages industry has clearly worked very hard in the last few years to reduce their carbon footprint and offer consumers a choice. By continuing to use recycled products and reduce waste, the Yellow Pages industry demonstrates its dedication not only to its users, but also the environment.