http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/idUS85259546620110615
As we all know, phone books are delivered to homes without “opting in” and with increasing development of technology are becoming more and more unnecessary. California has approved the request to stop automatic delivery and instead offers the phone books upon request or an environmentally friendly CD-ROM which would contain the same material without the waste of material. According to the article, Five million trees are cut down a year to cover the production of phone books and only 22% of people recycle the books, resulting in 660,000 tons of paper going to fill landfills. California’s solution is one that is both ecologically sound as well as fair. Those without computer access can still receive phone books and those who do not use them will not be forced the burden of disposal. Potential problems are still apparent with the new solution: those who are not socially aware may be left not knowing why they do not get a new phone book. Small business may see decline as people forego phone book directories and use easily located chain stores. These problems become negligent with proper announcement of the change. I feel that all states should follow California’s lead and pass their own initiatives to curb wastefulness.
What about the printing industry? With this development, although environmentally friendly, will decrease profit from this major industry in our economy. And how will these small businesses not lose customers to large, easily found chain stores?
ReplyDeleteI think that because many people still use phone books for looking up addresses and phone numbers for the people/stores that don't advertise on social networking or private websites, the printing industry would not completely go under. Undoubtedly it would suffer, but other options for distributing phone books are available, such as using CD-ROMs (as the article suggested) or online resources like yellowpages.com. Phone books, in my experience, are typically used to locate a precise, already-decided location. For example, I use phone books to look up the phone number of the place where I get my hair cut. I'm not looking for a new place, I already know where I'm going. If small businesses want to stay afloat, I suggest they move with the times and advertise on both the Internet and in phone books--that way they have access to the eyes of those people with either option. I agree with California's decision because of the amount of trees totally wasted on unused phone books. People should decide whether or not they want a phone book based on its usage in their household. If South Carolina gave its citizens a choice, I would opt out of getting one because I could simply write down or electronically store the addresses and numbers I want to remember to be environmentally friendly.
ReplyDeleteTo Amber -
ReplyDeleteRemoving automatic phonebook delivery does not hurt the printing industry – it is just not continuing to help it. The need for phonebooks is artificially inflated – those who wish to receive a phone book still can and those who are apathetic or prefer an electronic version will not have to waste resources. Many people do not actually use the phone book and simply discard the book as soon as they get it. Those who use the phone book will receive warnings prior to the change by announcements in the phone book. Small business will not lose any business as those who will not receive a phone book weren’t using it in the first place. This change is both economically and environmentally fair and will save the tax payers money.
I am all about saving paper. This is an awesome idea but if its saving so much paper what if all reading material just went online. The new nook things are a hit so people stop buying books. What if newspapers did it too. I recently went on a plane and I could get online in the air so if everyone quit buying news papers, magazines, phonebooks, novels, and it was all acsesable online this would put printing companies out of business completly. Using the internet is easier and more convinent and it might be helping the enviornment but what large companies would fail. Thats just the bigger picture.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great idea. Really, on a daily basis how many people open up a phonebook? Not many. Most people would resort to the internet or their phone anyways. Paper is one of the biggest things we waste so why not use a CD-Rom? I do understand though how this could hurt the printing industry but I also believe that it's realistic to stop auto-delivering these. Businesses will have to find another way to advertise or distribute materials.
ReplyDelete