Topeka Celebrates 20 Years of Phone Book Recycling

Project Re-Directory in Topeka, Kan. will kick off Aug. 1, providing the chance for residents to drop-off obsolete phone books in partnership with AT&T Real Yellow Pages and Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County.

The annual event is timed with the distribution of new books to businesses and residences and will run through Sept. 21. Drop-off locations include Dillon stores and McDonald’s restaurants, as well as City Hall and the Household Hazardous Waste facility. Several businesses are offering incentives to recycle phone books:

Local businesses in Topeka are offering incentives to donate such as a Buy One/Get One Free admission to the zoo to anyone who brings in a phone book. Also, AT&T Yellow Pages is offering a Project Re-Directory patch for youth that collect 10 or more phone books. Photo: Kansastravel.org

• McDonald’s locations will provide a free small drink
• Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts collecting 10 or more directories will receive a Project Re-Directory patch
• The Topeka Zoo is offering two-for-one admission on August 8-9 and free T-shirts

The zoo will also hold a special event on Aug. 7 featuring an appearance by the McDonald’s Hamburgler.

Topeka was the first city in Kansas to offer a phone book recycling project, and it is celebrating the 20th anniversary this year.

Phone books can be recycled into new directories or insulation, as well as other paper products. However, recycling involves extra steps than other paper products because of adhesive in the spine, so often they are accepted separately.

For more information, contact Philicia McKee, Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County at (785) 235-0845.