I am sick of people leaving promotional junk on my doorstep. I religiously recycle everything it is possible to recycle in the Cayman Islands and strongly object to having these magazines, leaflets and whatever — which I call unasked for garbage — left for me whether I want them or not. The latest culprit is Yello. I don’t want or need their phone books. Who does these days? If I need to know a phone number I do what everyone else does and Google it. Regardless of their recycling programme, this is an affront to the environment. Is there any way of stopping this?
Auntie’s answer: I really appreciate your question, as going green these days is almost a given. I also hate getting all sorts of printed materials left by my door. I can continue very happily through my day without all that unrequested stuff.
You point specifically at Yello so I approached that company with your complaint. (And by the way, my family of three received not one, but two, packages of two directories, the mini and full-size versions, so I feel your pain.)
The most time-sensitive reply to your query is that from 5-25 March, Yello will run its annual recycling programme whereby anyone who wants to turn in their old directory can bring them to Foster’s Food Fair, Hurley’s supermarket and participating primary schools. Yello then ships old directories off-island to turn them into reusable materials, a representative from the company explained.
I then asked how someone can opt out of getting the books in the first place. Yello said it has not previously received feedback like yours. But here’s some good news: the Yello representative said, “If an opt-out option would be helpful, we want to explore and figure out a solution. We are working as a team to brainstorm how it could work.”
One idea is to set up a simple online system which would enable people to input their name and contact details to opt out of getting a phone book delivered, close to the time the new directory is ready so that the address would be as current and accurate as possible. By the way, in addition to print, the directories are also accessible online and through mobile apps.
But nothing is set yet; the company will be looking at other possibilities as well and the option would likely be ready for the 2019 directory. Meanwhile, anyone who wants to return their new directories now, can drop them at the Yello office (131 Dorcy Drive, across from the Airport Post Office).
I want to stress as well that when I asked Yello about opting out, the representative said that looking at an opt-out option “was a direct result of your reader’s suggestion”.
So, keep sending me questions because, if nothing else, it never hurts to ask.
Where exactly are the old Yello directories sent for recycling? Can Yello prove that this is actually done? Can Yello prove how many directories are printed and how many get sent off island for recycling? Show me the stats! Show me the proof!
Given the Data Protection Law comes into effect soon it would be better to let people opt in if they want to continue to receive the book, and deliver only to them. Less work and less data to monitor for Yello, and absolutely no inconvenience to those many of us who don’t need or want the books in the first place.
Yello, who?
They have rebranded themselves to oblivion over the past few years trying desperately to keep themselves current. Yello is far outdone by their competition who are worthy of 2018 and progressing, instead of spending their time beating a dead horse.
Time to go softly into the night Yello.
You are now too far behind the times to compete and your methods are an environmental threat. Whether you say it gets recycled or not, clearly most people here are saying it gets the first truck to Mt. Trashmore.
Yes they are bad, these bits of junk, but I would rather them than the damned Jehovahs Witnesses and other God botherers….”first full apocalyptic open bible church of god universal” etc etc….knocking on my door on weekends and public holidays. Can’t something be done to stop these religious zealots, Auntie?
I am sooooo with you on this one
But I do agree, if you don’t want it, maybe they can come up with something to opt out. But wouldn’t it be hard because not only does there seem to be a big turnever on island, people seem to move a lot
As an expat coming on to Island, I didn’t know how to find anything. The yellow pages helped me tremendously. I know that not all businesses are online, but I felt reasonably sure that most resources that I would need setting up house keeping, nding doctors when i had the flu, I could find. My office also blocks Internet, so I have to use it at work. Also, I like the small one for my car. I don’t have to use my monthly data plan.
you a yello employee by any chance?
Yello creates jobs just as everyone does not go online for the news
Cayman resident…much more helpful for new residents!
Not really.
I’m in agreement with Jessica. I will keep my phone book at hand at all times.
Not ALL businesses are online people!!!
I also agree with an ‘opt in’ rather than opt out but then again, not everyone is online!! You Millennial’s need to realize that there are other generations that live in the world.
I find the Yellow Pages book far less intrusive as it used to be, mainly because it’s about 1/3rd the thickness!! Seems they’re the only one’s who don’t understand nobody uses print business directories, and i do not know 1 person who uses yellow pages online either….we got 5 versions for some reason, come in handy for doorstops i guess…
Businesses should just stop advertising in the print edition, then it will wither and die. As for the jewellery store mag that came recently, I will never buy anything from your shop on principle.
Can we do something about the unwanted religious propaganda left behind at the same time? Also, next election, tell Kenneth Bryan not to bother leaving any garbage on my property or I will report him for littering.
Same with the self appointed real estate experts garbage that plugs up a mailbox I rent. Complained to the post office, but they told me as long as someone pays for bulk mail they have to deliver. Just look at the garbage bin in the PO, they had to put there for all the unsolicited mail.
I just stick it all back in the Foreign Mail slot as I walk by. Keeps the postal workers employed if nothing else.
Data protection laws might help this when commenced. If by some miracle they get enforced that is.
Leaving them on the door step is often useful for criminals. If those phone books are left their for a few days, it may be that the owner is absent and that makes the properties potential theft targets. So no, I don’t want it either. Have never used it once in my many years here.
Exactly. Mine was left hanging on my front door while we were off for the school break.
Thanks for your comments and pursuit …. it is littering on my yard.
Phonebooks belong among the things that shouldn’t exist anymore. It’s all online with an app. Much of the information is wrong anyway – they still list closed businesses and former residents from over a decade ago! We requested our names to be removed and it took 2 years, then our listing reappeared out of thin air and we had to do it again. It’s a sham and waste of paper. Our complex was littered with two sizes of directories that nobody requested, or wanted, nor did Strata give permission to leave them.
Ridiculous response from Yello. CNS – please do a survey to find out the percentage of your readers who actually want or need this massive waste of paper. There’s no use for it anymore imo. .
We should have to Opt In not Opt Out, it is litter pure and simple. If you took these books and drop them in town you would get a ticket!
You could have stopped when you said this was the one and only such complaint Yello had ever received. Even the banning plastic straws issue was more interesting, and more stupid-therefore more newsworthy.
It’s not the only complaint.
Although we understand it is a business (respectful to the environment or not) that would like to raise the most advertisement dollars possible thus relying on print and readership statistics, to many of us, a phone book is now passé.
The company would sit better in my perspective if it would eliminate the print phone book all together and come up with a great way to keep up with the times.
Making us provide details that perhaps we do not want public anyway is no way to hold the environment’s better interest at stake.
However, if enough of us feel this way, those paying for the print to remain will hopefully as well and being that decisions are based on the dollar in this respect, we’re all relying on them to be responsible and think in today’s world.
Mine went from my door step to Mt Trashmore. I would love to opt out too!
Excellent post, I get angry every year when that junk phone book lands on my doorstep. I haven’t looked in it for years, the internet is quicker and easier. Stick to online business Yello.
Agreed I hope Yello are reading these comments!
I fully agree, but How about Yello do an “Opt In” rather than an “Opt Out”!
Exactly. They should assume no-one wants unless you opt in. Or only put in public areas eg the area by Fosters with the free magazine and anyone that wants one can take from there
and why do they need a large AND small directory?? If they HAVE to have one, make it small and stop the large, useless one altogether! The only thing it’s good for is to prop my computer monitor a bit higher!
Yello drops off to businesses (good idea as they check how many you want) but they won’t take away the old ones. Why not? Why have I got to wait for the recycle boxes? Where are they? Why are they not in place before you drop off the new ones????
They do take away the old ones if you open your eyes there are yello drop off bins every year and are collected
Well said.
Hello Yello? Please stop bringing mine too..
There should be a law against putting leaflets on private cars on private property or anywhere
Yello and like print media is dead. Hence is why they go to lengths to deliver unsolicited, their advertising books masquerading as a phone directory. Good riddance I say.