THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 20, 1994 TAG: 9407200376
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
New telephone directories began showing up on doorsteps this week, and recyclers are hoping the old books will show up on curbs.
To make recycling easier this year, last year's phone directories can be dumped anywhere newspapers are collected for recycling, including the blue boxes provided by the Southeastern Public Service Authority in its curbside recycling program. They also can be taken to any of SPSA's recycling centers and at most Virginia Beach public schools.
``This is the first time that telephone-book recycling has been available at both curbside and drop-off locations,'' said Joe Thomas, recycling director for SPSA.
``We've expanded the program to make telephone-book recycling as easy as possible for residents,'' Thomas said.
Delivery of new telephone books began Monday. The recycling of old books began today and will continue through Oct. 2.
Residents who have curbside service may put old directories at the curb with newspapers on their designated pick-up day. SPSA provides curbside recycling for 150,000 homes.
Residents who use one of SPSA's 35 drop-off locations can put the books in the container for newspapers.
Additionally, telephone books can be dropped into newspaper bins at all Virginia Beach public schools, except College Park and Holland elementary schools and Green Run High School.
The books should not have any plastic covers on them.
The telephone books will be taken to Tidewater Fibre Corp./Econo Disposal in Chesapeake. From there they will be shipped to paper mills for repulping so they can be used to make new phone books, pizza and cereal boxes, ceiling tiles, egg cartons and insulation.
``Many paper mills expanded in the last year, adding equipment especially designed to clean and reuse wastepaper coming out of homes and businesses,'' said Joyce Hedish of Tidewater Fibre. ``Now they want more wastepaper - including old telephone books.''
Bell Atlantic and GTE are financing the recycling drive.
``They created that waste and they are being good corporate citizens by saying they're going to help get rid of it,'' Thomas said.
Last year, 16 percent, or 240 tons, of South Hampton Roads phone books were recycled, said Peter Heimlicher, Bell Atlantic manager of environmental issues. He hopes the expanded program will boost those numbers to 30 percent, or 400 to 450 tons.
``Recycling is high on our customers' lists,'' Heimlicher said.
Thomas said this year's recycling effort ``is the best organized the region's ever been.'' by CNB