~ 192.com calls for an 'opt in' phonebook delivery system to stop the distribution of unnecessary and out-of-date information ~

192.com has launched its 'I don't use phonebooks anymore' campaign, urging the UK to stand up against the 75,000 tonnes of paper directories delivered each year .

The UK's leading people and business finder is calling on the British public to wake up to the current phonebook crisis and petition manufacturers to stop bombarding them with so much waste paper that it could stretch half way round the Earth . 192.com is partnering with recycle-more.co.uk to encourage people to campaign for an end to automatic phonebook delivery to help reduce the growing environmental cost of production, distribution and waste management.

"Phonebooks are out of date by the time they go to print," Keith Marsden, managing director of 192.com said. "Compare an online directory that's updated daily, with a phone book that's already months out of date by the time it's delivered and I know which one I'd choose."

Every year, around 75 million phonebooks are delivered to residential addresses in the UK, whether households want them or not. 192.com and recycle-more.co.uk are calling for a new 'opt in' system, where people have to ask for a phonebook if they want one. Concerned citizens can unite against the crisis and download a poster saying 'I don't use phonebooks anymore!' from 192.com.

Samantha Blades at recycle-more.co.uk commented: "The millions of unwanted phonebooks disposed of each year should be recycled, but many people either don't get round to it, don't know how to do it, or even can't, because of a lack of local facilities. This campaign looks at recycling and the cause of the problem - the automatic production and delivery of a book that most households no longer need anyway. We want to help more people recycle old phonebooks, and prevent phonebooks from causing damage to the environment in the future, both in terms of landfill and carbon emissions during the distribution and production process."

Marsden continued: "Directory enquiry websites give complete nationwide coverage, are updated daily and aggregate multiple data sources - not to mention the powerful search options. 192.com includes much more information than is available in a traditional phonebook such as website addresses, opening times, Company and Director reports and even interactive mapping and photography."

"When you consider that Thomson and Yell are composed almost entirely of advertising and that even the BT Phonebook is headed down this route, why are phonebooks not treated the same as junk mail and telemarketing? We're calling for an opt-in system to force people to make a choice that will benefit both individuals and the community as a whole," Marsden concluded.

Those who have already turned to the Internet for their directory enquiry needs are being encouraged to stop phonebooks being delivered to their home by displaying their 'I don't use phonebooks anymore' poster, and adding to the number of people wanting an opt out delivery system to be enforced. The poster and survey on support for the opt-out system are available online at www.192.com/nophonebooks . Find out more about where and how phonebooks can be recycled at www.recycle-more.co.uk.