NEW YORK, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Public Service Commission on Thursday (Oct. 14) granted Verizon's request to provide customers with an online, electronic version of the Verizon White Pages directory as the primary means to access residential telephone directory information.  

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities granted a similar waiver in that state on Sept. 16.

Beginning in January, most Verizon directories delivered in New York will not include residential white pages listings.  At that time, customers can request a free printed or CD-ROM directory of residential listings be sent by mail by calling 1-800-888-8448.

Print directories -- containing business and government white pages, information pages and the yellow pages -- will continue to be delivered.  All white pages listings are accessible at www.verizon.com/whitepages, and the residential print and CD-ROM versions will be available free, upon request.

To improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts associated with printed directories, Verizon earlier this year requested the New York PSC to waive the existing requirement to deliver residential white pages.  The company noted that significant resources are expended annually to print and automatically distribute directories to customers who may not want or use them.

Residential white pages usage has decreased considerably due to the Internet and mobile search.  Gallup estimates the usage for residential white page directories had dropped to about 11 percent in 2008.  In addition, the discontinuation of the residential white pages directories is expected to keep approximately 5,000 tons of paper out of the New York waste stream.

Reducing the use of paper is a significant part of Verizon's comprehensive sustainability efforts.  Last year alone, Verizon and its customers saved over 573 million pages of paper by switching to paperless billing.  Verizon's aggressive energy reduction and recycling measures reduced the company's CO2 emissions by more than 793 million pounds in 2009, which is approximately the amount of CO2 emitted by 46,700 homes in a year.

SuperMedia LLC is the publisher of the Verizon directories.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com/whitepages.

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SOURCE Verizon