Politicians call for opt-in on phone books

Sensis sets up online service to allow householders to stop receiving phone books.

A spokesman for Sensis told Print21 that the move came after the company recognised the need to provide people with greater choice in how they use Sensis’ products and services, where they can request not to receive a phone book online.

“This is something we’ve been offering [via a 1800 number] since 2005,” said the spokesman. “Next month, we’ll be extending this service online, so that people can request not to receive directories, as well as order additional copies.”

The name of the site is yet to be made public.

Sensis’ decision comes at a time when politicians have been pushing for changes to the way that phone books are delivered.

A spokesperson for Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, (pictured) told Print21 that lots of residents had contacted the her about “big pile ups” of phone books in their residential areas, leading Cr Moore to write to Stephen Conroy, minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy.

In her letter to Senator Conroy, Cr Moore described one resident’s concern over “apartment building foyers filled with unwanted directories, and residents immediately throwing them away, adding to landfill and unnecessary paper recycling.”

Cr Moore believes that an opt-in system to obtain copies of telephone directories would help to solve the problem. “I asked the Commonwealth Minister for an opt-in system that ensures those who do not have internet access still get phone books, while eliminating waste. The Minister's response indicates it is unlikely that the Commonwealth Government will impose tighter regulation. Reform is not likely without a concerted community campaign for change,” she said.

Richard Di Natale of the Greens Victoria told media that he also supported an opt-in system.

The Sensis spokesman defended the public’s use of phonebooks, citing 2010 Roy Morgan figures that Yellow and White Pages are used more than 20 million times per week by people looking for a local business, a person or a government department or service.

“We find over the course of a year, we actually receive more orders for White Pages and Yellow Pages directories than we do requests from people wishing not receive them,” he said. “Based on this experience, we don't expect our print volumes to significantly change.”

The Sensis phonebooks are printed by Australia’s largest printer, PMP. CEO, Richard Allely, predicts they will continue to play a part in the lives of most Australians. "It will be generations until you see Yellow Pages not being a feature in our lives,” Allely said.