How many inches of "phone books" do you have in your house?

Question

and who issues your phone books

and do you feel the phone book companies should combine their efforts or disband the phone books altogether (because of current technology)?

This "appears" to be a recycling problem and a landfill problem: because of duplication of efforts (competition of companies who put out the phone books), plus yearly phone book management by the resident (50% who are in the internet or have 411 plus libraries they could call for the info they need, or they have cellphones or ipods or emails keeping track of their conts), and some people don't recycle the books and the books end up in our landfills. The ink may be a problem for the soil too. And trees lose their lives because they are used to make paper.

Answer 1

We have about 12 inches of phone books in our house. I don't understand why more than one company needs to put them out when BOTH are delivered directly to my door anyway! It's not like I buy them.. I think they come in handy when my internet isn't working, but that's not too often. I don't think they should get rid of them because that would kinda lose the people that don't have internet or even a computer. Also, the older people need phone books sometimes :o)

Answer 2

My count is (approximately) 15 inches of Phone Books, issued by Verizon.

Since I am switching to Cable Phone, I will likely have less in the months ahead.

I definitely think something could be done to consolidate, so there is less wasted paper. I hardly use the silly things anymore, although I admit that I make a great effort to use e-mail more and spend less time on the phone.

Since I answer a switchboard phone professionally, I am inclined to spend as little time on the phone as possible. Often, I simply turn the thing off, let the calls go to voice-mail, and answer them at my leisure.

Answer 3

I'd say probably a good 12 inches of phone books...we are packrats!  They are mainly issued by Verizon.  I like the new ones with more "yellow" pages to help you find what you need and they even have menu's to popular restaurants.  The 411 thing is easier than a phone book, but it's also kind of messed up seeing as how you have to repeat yourself about 6-10 times before they understand you and you have to ask them to repeat their selves about 3 times before you understand them.  Not to mention, ½ the time the person isn't listen anymore, but the information is still in an old phone book.

Answer 4

Many Many inches.  They are recyclable also.  The problem is that the phone companies don't want to do this because it will cut into the profit margin.  If there is a good resource, it needs to be expanded.

Answer 5

a bunch of inches!!! I think mine are from alltel.  they have the phonebooks on multiple websites, so I think they should ban them because people without computers are so numbered, and then they can just go to a local library, in which they have computers and internet that you can use for free... so yes I agree!  you bring up some good points my friend!

thanks for the question and info.!  hope I could answer your questions

Answer 6

Very good question. I have probably 9-12 inches of phone books in my house and probably another 9-12 inches in the lobby of my building of books no one picked up. I agree with you. I would at least hope phone books are made from recycled paper. I've thought the same thing about what a waste of resouces they are.

Answer 7

We probably have close to 20 in. of phone book,maybe even more. Sometimes the books are helpful but it seems most times they are a pain. I agree there should be some way of requesting them and that they shouldn't just be dropped off, maybe a hot line or a check-off box on the phone bill.

Answer 8

Not one ,dont have a phone

my contact with the world is stricktly the internet

Answer 9

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many!!!!! but they have recycling for these too so most new ones are made from recycling.

Answer 10

I just got a new directory delivered yesterday. I live about 20 miles outside of Cleveland, so I get the Cleveland directory plus the one for the county I live in. With this day and age of computers, On-Star, cell phones and such, I should think people are using these book less and less. They should start using a request and new citizen list only.

Answer 11

We only keep the most current phone book, however, we do not really need the current one as the internet has all the information we really need including maps.  Maybe it is job justification for somebody, nevertheless, it is a waste of money, time and materials.