Jackson Free Press

The organization Keep Jackson Beautiful is kicking off its annual telephone-book recycling program this month in collaboration with AT&T The Real Yellow Pages and Recycling Services of Jackson. The program, which runs through Aug. 31, offers non-profit organizations the chance to make 10 cents per phone book by collecting the books, although the general public is encouraged to root up any outdated phone books and recycle them.

"Last year we recycled 48,500 pounds of phone books," said Marsha Hobson, executive director of Keep Jackson Beautiful. "I hope to do better this year."

Approximately 11,000 books were recycled last year, but the number represents only a tiny fraction of what goes into municipal and county landfills.

"This paper is very clean, very easily recycled," Hobson said. "(Recycling) saves a lot of trees, and it saves a lot of space in our landfill."

Recycling Services has placed six bins in and around the Jackson area where individuals or groups can discard the bins for recycling purposes, and the main office at 3010 North Mill St. is also taking books.

The office is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. When organizations bring telephone books into the office, the staff weighs them and gives a ticket. Groups then take that ticket to Hobson at the end of August and receive a stipend. The group must be recognized, and individuals and businesses are not eligible for this program.

Organizations interested in signing up and/or learning drop-off locations should call Hobson at 601-366-4842, or visit the Keep Jackson Beautiful office at 2906 North State St., Suite 212. Any businesses interested in recycling its old phone books should also contact Hobson.