27 February 2010 - Local councils have started a "war on pointless phone directories" in an effort to reduce waste and save money.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England, says that printed directories create 75,000 tonnes of waste per year and that UK taxpayers are paying £7.5m annually for the disposal of directories.
The LGA is not calling for an opt-in system for directories but is urging householders who do not use directories to cancel them by contacting the publishers. In its press release the chairman of the LGA's Environment Board, Gary Porter, says that "slowly but surely, the printed phone directory has become as outdated as the Betamax video and the typewriter. With the internet and mobile phones, many people will have almost forgotten what a phone directory looks like. Picking up the latest directory from the doormat, removing the wrapper and throwing it straight in the recycling has become an annual ritual.
"Council taxpayers' money could be spent on better things than picking up phone directories, many of which are never even used. Cutting down on the number of pointless phone directories could save millions and allow councils to spend more on vital services like care for the elderly."
The LGA has calculated that the £7.5m spent on disposing of directories could pay for 491 teaching assistants or 259 social workers, or could be spent on filling over 100,000 potholes. However, the Mr Porter also recognises that not everybody will want to cancel directories: "Of course, for some people phone directories are still important, but where people no longer need them, they can make a quick, free phone call or send an email and cancel the delivery."
In today's Daily Telegraph, the Data Publishers Association is quoted as saying that although seven out of ten people now have the internet, many people still prefer to use paper directories. The industry representative also claims that directories are "a multi-million pound advertising industry in itself" and "boost local businesses who are unable to publicise their services in any other way." It did not comment on the LGA's suggestion that householders who are not using directories should opt out.
Householders wanting to cancel paper directories can do so via Junk Buster, or by contacting the directories directly. Yell can be contacted on 0800 671 444, BT on 0800 833 400, and Thomson Local on 01252 555 555 or via e-mail