FAQ-Waste-Phone Books

There are various telephone directories (phone books) supplied to individuals, companies and organizations around the province for different purposes and different locations. The recycling of phone books can present some challenges because the materials they are made of are different from other paper streams being recycled and because these materials vary from one phone book to the next.  As a result, some local recycling programs readily accept phone books while others encounter challenges incorporating these into their programs.

In Alberta, some phone directory publishing companies work directly with municipalities to help deliver a recycling program to most effectively dispose of outdated phone books. Some publishing companies also make their telephone directories available electronically, to avoid the waste issue altogether.  To see if your phone directory is available electronically contact the publisher directly (check the first few pages of your directory for contact information).

Where do we recycle phone books?

Because of the variety of telephone books available throughout the province and the variance between local recycling programs and markets, please contact your municipality directly to discover what the options are in your community.

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