Phone Book Product Stewardship Initiative June 28, 2007 Raleigh-Durham, NC

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 2 Press Ground Rules Meeting information for “background” only. No quotes from meeting. Seek interview if want to quote.

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 3 Who is the Product Stewardship Institute? National non-profit, Based in Boston, founded Board Members (7 state/4 local) 5 staff members, 12 contractors/consultants Membership 39 States 45 Local Agencies Adjunct Council (Business, Env’l Groups/Org’s)

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 4 PSI Full and Affiliate State Members

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 5 PSI Local Members – North Carolina  Catawba County  City of Greensboro  Mecklenburg County  Wake County  Winston-Salem/Forsyth County

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 6 PSI Adjunct Council Two Branches: Business Branch Environmental/Organizational Branch Enhances shared dialogue Expands product stewardship network

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 7 PSI Projects  Phone books  Mercury Thermostats  Fluorescent lamps  Paint  Electronics  Pharmaceuticals  Tires  Beverage containers  Motor oil  Gas Cylinders  Radioactive Devices

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 8 PSI Mission “The Product Stewardship Institute pursues initiatives to ensure that all those involved in the lifecycle of a product share responsibility for reducing its health and environmental impacts.

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 9 PSI Role in Phone Book Dialogue Research/technical competency Forum for stakeholder dialogue Facilitate/mediate agreements Design and implement pilot projects Clearinghouse for paint product stewardship policies and programs

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 10 PSI’s “Agenda” Promote product stewardship solutions Reduce product impacts Forge partnerships that share responsibility Management Financing Get results – not just discussion

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 11 NOT PSI’s Agenda No preconceived strategies to reduce product impacts Not advocating for one strategy over another No preconceived notion on how to finance strategies

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 12 Meeting Objectives Agree on: Meeting expectations Dialogue focus Issue statement Dialogue goals Discuss road map

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 13 Meeting Objectives Explore priority issues and strategies Issue 1: Unwanted phone books Issue 2: Env’l impact of phone book production Issue 3: Recycling Issue 4: Alternatives to printed directories Issue 5: Sustainable financing Determine next steps (what, who, how, when) Establish process for follow up (work groups?)

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 14 Meeting Expectations Discuss Issues and Potential Strategies Gain understanding Provide background and context What do we know? What are the data gaps? Any strategies that we should not pursue? Any strategies that seem more viable to pursue? No final decisions on strategies at this mtg

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 15 Dialogue Focus This project will focus on waste prevention and resource conservation.

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 16 Phone Book Issue Statement

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 17 Primary Dialogue Goal The primary goal of the project is to reduce the tonnage of unwanted telephone books that are generated and distributed to households and businesses.

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 18 Secondary Dialogue Goal The secondary goal is to increase environmentally preferable practices related to phone book production and distribution.

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 19 Phone Book Road Map MEETING 2 MEETING 3 ??? MEETING 1 START June 2007 October 2007 ??? ???? Finalize Action Plan Conduct research Ratify agreements Pursue funding for strategies Develop project work plans Discuss Issues and Strategies MEETING 4 ??? Fill data gaps Identify more strategies/refine Present research Propose strategies Decide priority strategies

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 20 Possible Dialogue Outcomes Baseline data for evaluation Pilot projects with measurable results Model state programs (reduction) National standards (e.g., recycled content) Model state or federal legislation National sustainable financing system for the management of phone books

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 21 Possible Mechanisms for Agreements Letter of agreement between those involved in pilot project Memorandum of understanding between stakeholders stating intent to perform certain activities

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 22 What do we want to avoid? Avoid multiple state solutions Avoid unilateral state or federal regulation

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 23

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 24 Product Stewardship Action Plan Issue Statement Project Focus Project Goals Dialogue Process/Timeline Issues Potential Strategies

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 25 Process for Developing Product Stewardship Action Plan Draft Issue Statement and Goals appeared in Project Summary Interviews with over 25 stakeholders Changes made after each interview Draft Action Plan NOT PSI’s Issues/Strategies

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 26 Growing Interest in Issue Consumer Interest in Not Receiving Phone Books States with legislation requiring opt out: NC, NM, NY Local Legislation Prohibiting Distribution of Unsolicited Material National Do Not Call Registry Do Not Junk Registry Campaign Catalogue Campaign Legislation Requiring Recycled Content in Phone Books

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 27 Issue/Strategy Discussion Background technical information Clarify Issue and Strategies What are the data gaps? Any strategies that we should not pursue? Any strategies that seem more viable to pursue? Additional strategies Next steps – what, who, when

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 28 Issue #1 Unwanted Phone Books Solution: Reduce the number of phone books delivered to customers that do not want them

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 29 Issue #1 Unwanted Phone Books There is a lack of data regarding the quantity of books that are printed, distributed, collected, and recycled nationally In 2005, there were 660,000 tons of phone books manufactured in the United States by approximately 250 directory publishers, of which 18.2 percent was recycled. Estimated cost of $63 million per year (disposal and recycling) Industry Usage Study

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 30 Issue #1 Unwanted Phone Books Most residents and businesses lack a way to “opt out” of receiving phone books they do not want. In most states, utility-affiliated phone book publishers are mandated to provide a directory (white pages listing) to every line subscriber. Another factor limiting the usefulness of the books is their physical characteristics.

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 31 Issue #1: Strategies Unwanted Phone Books Strategy #1: Develop baseline data via a joint research project among stakeholders Strategy #2: Find ways to gauge customer demand accurately Strategy #3: Overturn/revise laws mandating white pages distribution Strategy #4: Increase the user-friendliness of printed directories

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 32 Issue #1: Strategies Unwanted Phone Books Strategy #5: Allow recipients to “opt out” of receiving phone books Strategy #6: Require recipients to “opt in” to receive phone books Strategy #7: Reduce excess phone book redundancy Strategy #8: Survey Directory Publishers Strategy #9: Conduct Public Opinion Survey

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 33 Issue #2: Environmental Impact of Phone Book Production Solution: Encourage the telephone directory industry to continue to implement ways to “green” the process of manufacturing phone books

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 34 Issue #2: Environmental Impact of Phone Book Production Strategy #1: Encourage or mandate a minimum recycled paper content for both publishers and printers Strategy #2: Phone book industry could require paper suppliers to follow sustainable forestry practices Strategy #3: Develop study to determine the top priority actions that the phone book industry can take to further reduce environmental impacts Strategy #4: Encourage phone book publishers to become carbon-neutral

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 35 Issue #3: Recycling Solution: Increase the recycling rate of phone books

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 36 Issue #3: Recycling Strategy #1: Develop a baseline recycling rate Strategy #2: Develop a plan to increase the number and availability of local phone book recycling programs Strategy #3: Educate consumers about recycling opportunities for phone books

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 37 Issue #4: Alternatives to Printed Directories Solution: Explore and promote alternatives to printed directories

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 38 Issue #4: Alternatives to Printed Directories Strategy #1: Enhance online (Internet- based) directories Strategy #2: Free telephone 411 service Strategy #3: CD-ROM directories

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 39 Issue #5: Sustainable Financing Solution: Develop a sustainable financing system that covers the collection, transportation, and recycling costs of phone books

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 40 Issue #5: Sustainable Financing Strategy #1: Transfer phone book management costs from government agencies to phone book manufacturers or users Strategy #2: Require phone book manufacturers to recycle

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 41 Issue #5: Financing We need to first figure out what we want to accomplish, and THEN we can figure out how to finance it.

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 42 Financing Front-end payments Advanced Recycling Fee (visible) Tires, lead acid batteries, motor oil Government or industry-managed fund Cost internalization (invisible) Back-end fees Deposits Retail coupons/incentives

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 43 Financing What are the 2 main things about financing that you would like addressed in dialogue? Additional research/information you need to be prepared to discuss financing at the Seattle meeting?

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 44 Next Steps Confirm next steps on each issue What are the data gaps? Any strategies that we should not pursue? Any strategies that seem more viable to pursue? Additional strategies Next steps (what, who, how, when) Set Workgroup?

June 28, 2007 PSI Phone Book Stewardship Project 45 Next Steps Stakeholder assessment Outline draft agenda for Meeting #2 Schedule next meeting October Seattle WA – Host: King County Same format