How many people do you know reference the yellow phone book when they are trying to look up a business they might need to go to? The answer is probably ZERO. In our day in age, the famous yellow pages phone book is outdated and obsolete. This is the 21st century after all, not the 50′s or 60′s, or 70′s, or 80′s, or even the 90′s. The invention of the internet and major adoption of it in the 2000′s has basically reduced the yellow pages phone book to a really good door stop, or worse, a source of paper for the fire place.

Stop receiving that darn Yellow Pages phone book every year by going to Phone Book Opt Out today. Once you visit the website, you’ll enter in your zip code to find out what types of phone books could be sent to your home. It gives you a list of the which phone books you are elegible to receive. You then select all of the options, for me there were seven different phone books, then you register your name and address with the website. They will then contact those companies and attempt to remove your name from their lists.

Enlisting Yellow Pages Opt Out services might not stop every phone book from appearing at your door. If you still receive them, place a call to the contact numbers on the actual phone book and talk to someone in person for removal. Want to stop more than just unwanted phone books from coming to your home, visit our post on how to reduce junk mail by up to 90%.

Online Business Directories

yellowpages.com – this one is probably the most well known online business listing due to its brand name, they also have an mobile App for smartphone users including iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and PALM users.
yellowbook.com – this alternative has local coupon deals, in my opinion, has a better website interface, and also has mobile apps for smartphone users.
superpages.com – this other alternative also has local coupon deals, mobile apps galore, and a very friendly user interface.

There are also services such as texting to 46645 (GOOGL) “Mellow Mushroom Pizza Portland, OR” and you will get a text message back with listings. GOOG-411 was a free voice activated directory service offered by Google but was cancelled in November 2010. An alternative is 800-BING-411 and it works very similarly to GOOG-411, except it offers turn-by-turn driving directions, news headlines, travel info, cheap gas, horoscopes, weather for any city, traffic, sports scores, and movie information.

Recycle Your Old Phone Book

If you’re currently receiving curbside recycling, chances are, you can toss your yellow pages phone book right into the paper recycling. Check with your local recycling company to be that you are allowed to recycle your phone book.

1-800-RECYCLING.COM is a free, comprehensive recycling database that lists local information about how to recycle plastics, electronics, paper, glass, metal, automotive, and household hazardous materials. It also lists state recycling guidelines throughout the US.

Download the Yellow Pages Sustainability Report 2011.

Photo Credit: ianbell.com