Those Damn Phone Books

Tipped off by Jason Kottke's post about NYC recycling, or the lack thereof, I recently received that annual *thud* of paper on my doorstep known as the local phone books.

In most towns this probably isn't an issue, but in Atlanta the phone book situation is completely out of control. We have two giant White pages books, two giant Yellow Pages books, and one relatively slim Business book. The waste involved in reprinting / distributing these beasts is simply staggering, and the phone company won't help you dispose of your outdated, replaced books in a responsible, environmentally friendly manner.

I called -- I know -- I was told to drive an hour north to find someone willing to take our old books off our hands. Curbside recycling won't pick them up, which is such a shame.