Green Legislation for White Pages Introduced
California Political Desk
February 03, 2010
SACRAMENTO – Following the successful efforts of Cleveland, Ohio and Miami, Florida, California could become the largest jurisdiction to give telephone customers a choice in receiving the white pages phonebook directory. Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) introduced legislation (SB 920) to prohibit telephone companies from delivering the white pages unless the customer opts-in to receiving it.
"The requirement that phone companies must deliver the white pages comes from an era before the internet and other means of obtaining phone numbers," said Yee. "At a time when Californians are looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, we should give them that choice, particularly when very few customers still use the white pages."
"This is common sense," said Millbrae Councilmember Gina Papan, who encouraged Yee to introduce the bill. "The amount of waste generated every year by unused phone books is tragic. Most people forget they don't want or use their white pages until it is too late and ends up on their doorstep. SB 920 will reduce our carbon footprint and save scarce local resources."
Beginning in 1995, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has required the delivery of the white pages as a part of the definition of "universal service" that all telephone companies must provide. At the time of the CPUC decision, it was thought that providing free white pages every year would "minimize the calls to directory assistance and [would] promote the wide distribution of yellow page advertising" (CPUC Decision 96-10-066).
According to the Product Stewardship Institute, telephone books represent significant tonnage in the waste stream (660,000 tons per year). Local governments currently bear costs to recycle and/or dispose of phone books, and some areas experience limited or absent opportunities to recycle. According to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, not publishing a phone book reduces greenhouse gases by about three times as much as recycling (relative to land filling).
"The 87,000 tons of paper telephone directories delivered to California households represents a largely unnecessary waste of energy resources," said Mark Murray, Executive Director of Californians Against Waste. "With numerous free alternatives for obtaining phone and address information, it´s no wonder that 96 percent of consumers say they ´never´ or ´rarely´ use telephone directories anymore. Senator Yee´s SB 920 will help reduce this unnecessary and costly waste."
"Phonebook Free SF fully endorses the efforts of Senator Yee to stop the wasteful mass distribution of unwanted phonebooks," said Lloyd Nimetz, Founding Organizer of Phonebook Free. "Asking phonebook companies to limit their deliveries only to resident who want to receive them is a clear step towards greater fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability."
Under the legislation, telephone companies would be required to get a customer´s consent before a white page directory could be delivered. Although the legislation does not dictate how this will be accomplished, it is envisioned that telephone companies will obtain permission via the monthly bill or by establishing a toll free number for customers.
The legislation will likely be considered in committee in March.
"The requirement that phone companies must deliver the white pages comes from an era before the internet and other means of obtaining phone numbers," said Yee. "At a time when Californians are looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, we should give them that choice, particularly when very few customers still use the white pages."
"This is common sense," said Millbrae Councilmember Gina Papan, who encouraged Yee to introduce the bill. "The amount of waste generated every year by unused phone books is tragic. Most people forget they don't want or use their white pages until it is too late and ends up on their doorstep. SB 920 will reduce our carbon footprint and save scarce local resources."
Beginning in 1995, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has required the delivery of the white pages as a part of the definition of "universal service" that all telephone companies must provide. At the time of the CPUC decision, it was thought that providing free white pages every year would "minimize the calls to directory assistance and [would] promote the wide distribution of yellow page advertising" (CPUC Decision 96-10-066).
According to the Product Stewardship Institute, telephone books represent significant tonnage in the waste stream (660,000 tons per year). Local governments currently bear costs to recycle and/or dispose of phone books, and some areas experience limited or absent opportunities to recycle. According to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, not publishing a phone book reduces greenhouse gases by about three times as much as recycling (relative to land filling).
"The 87,000 tons of paper telephone directories delivered to California households represents a largely unnecessary waste of energy resources," said Mark Murray, Executive Director of Californians Against Waste. "With numerous free alternatives for obtaining phone and address information, it´s no wonder that 96 percent of consumers say they ´never´ or ´rarely´ use telephone directories anymore. Senator Yee´s SB 920 will help reduce this unnecessary and costly waste."
"Phonebook Free SF fully endorses the efforts of Senator Yee to stop the wasteful mass distribution of unwanted phonebooks," said Lloyd Nimetz, Founding Organizer of Phonebook Free. "Asking phonebook companies to limit their deliveries only to resident who want to receive them is a clear step towards greater fiscal responsibility and environmental sustainability."
Under the legislation, telephone companies would be required to get a customer´s consent before a white page directory could be delivered. Although the legislation does not dictate how this will be accomplished, it is envisioned that telephone companies will obtain permission via the monthly bill or by establishing a toll free number for customers.
The legislation will likely be considered in committee in March.
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