Seattle first city to require opt-out option for phone book delivery
SEATTLE -- If you no longer use a phone book and get tired of seeing one on your doorstep, there's now a new ordinance that allows residents and businesses to choose not to have a phone book delivered.
An astounding 2 million phone books end up at the recycle plant in Seattle every year, and it costs the city about $350,000 to dispose of all that paper.
Now that we've got the internet, a lot of people just don't want phone books anymore, but they keep showing up.
Seattle City Councilor Mike O'Brien decided to do something about all the complaints that flooded his office. He led the charge to pass a new ordinance.
It establishes a website that allows people to opt-out of receiving phone books by signing up online. And the ordinance has some teeth: if a distribution company delivers to a resident who opted out, the company could face a $125 fine.
To opt out, go to seattle.gov/stopphonebooks
An astounding 2 million phone books end up at the recycle plant in Seattle every year, and it costs the city about $350,000 to dispose of all that paper.
Now that we've got the internet, a lot of people just don't want phone books anymore, but they keep showing up.
Seattle City Councilor Mike O'Brien decided to do something about all the complaints that flooded his office. He led the charge to pass a new ordinance.
It establishes a website that allows people to opt-out of receiving phone books by signing up online. And the ordinance has some teeth: if a distribution company delivers to a resident who opted out, the company could face a $125 fine.
To opt out, go to seattle.gov/stopphonebooks
