HONOLULU, Aug. 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Berry Company, publisher of the Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages, along with schools on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui and Molokai, collected 10 tons of outdated telephone directories for recycling through the seventh-annual Think Yellow, Go Green program. The program ran in conjunction with the release of the 2015 Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages on the neighbor islands.
The Berry Company is dedicated to ensuring there is a program to remove outdated directories when the new directory is released. The environmental awareness program, which began on Earth Day, invited schools across the neighbor islands to compete to collect the most outdated directories for recycling. The schools had the opportunity to win cash prizes for their students' participation in the program, and award amounts varied depending on the school's location.
Each year the Think Yellow, Go Green program teaches thousands of students across the neighbor islands about the importance of recycling. Waiakea High School, the school that collected the most telephone directories on Hawaii Island, amassed 3,890 pounds of directories.
"Our school has been honored to participate in the Think Yellow, Go Green phone book recycling program, which teaches our students about protecting our local environment and the difference they can make in the community, while also and raising funds for our school," said Donna Tanabe, Student Activities Coordinator at Waiakea High School.
In addition to the school contest, The Berry Company teamed up with local food banks, including Hawaii Foodbank, Hawaii Foodbank – Kauai Branch, The Food Basket and the Maui Foodbank, to host a community food drive. By using reusable delivery bags for the new 2015 directories, The Berry Company encouraged the community to fill the bags with nonperishable food items and deliver them to the participating food banks.
"The Berry Company is committed to recycling outdated directories as the new directory is delivered in the communities we serve, and also to raising awareness about recycling and sustainability," said John Lambert, branch manager of The Berry Company in Hawaii. "We're proud that through the Think Yellow, Go Green program, students across the neighbor islands have raised funds for their schools and learned about the difference they can make in protecting the local environment."
Hawaiian Telcom Yellow Pages are 100-percent recyclable. After the close of the contest, the recycled telephone directories are shipped off-island for recycling. On Hawaii, Kauai and Maui the materials are converted into an array of new products, including building insulation, writing and copier papers, newsprint and paper towels, while directories collected on Lanai and Molokai are energy recycled into electricity at HPOWER on Oahu.
Recycling and environmental sustainability are important initiatives year-round, so residences and businesses throughout Hawaii should check with their local recycling department for more information on recycling programs offered in their area.
Consumers throughout the Hawaiian Islands use multiple sources when they are looking for local products and services, according to a Booth research study conducted last year in Hawaii. A large number of consumers turn to the Yellow Pages, in addition to other online, social and mobile sources for local search. The Berry Company has transformed its approach to help advertisers ensure they are accessible wherever consumers are searching. The company's legacy is in print directories but it also provides online directories, web sites, search engine marketing, video and more.
For more information about the recycling program, visit ThinkYellowGoGreen.com.
ABOUT THE BERRY COMPANY: The Berry Company, LLC, is a leading provider of local online, search, video and print solutions. Its local leads experts help over 130,000 businesses in 50 states market their businesses to local consumers. As an authorized reseller of YP.com™ in all of its markets, The Berry Company provides its clients with online listings and video advertising through this leading national Internet Yellow Pages site. The company is a Google™ Qualified Company, offering Google AdWords and other solutions to its clients.
Since its founding more than 100 years ago, The Berry Company has offered exceptional service, local market expertise and a strong portfolio of solutions. For more information, please visit www.TheBerryCompany.com.
To stop the delivery of any print directory, or change the number of directories you receive, please go to www.yellowpagesoptout.com.