Cambridge councilors want Globe Direct to stop bombarding the city with those stupid red bags

The Cambridge City Council on Monday considers a proposal to have the city manager try to get the Globe to stop littering the streets with those Globe Direct circulars that many residents never asked for in the first place.

The proposed measure, sponsored by councilors Leland Cheung, Marc McGovern and Dennis Carlone, says the red plastic bags the ads come in is turning Cambridge streets into repositories of red trash. And the bags are not biodegradable, which means the material could last up to 1,000 years, posing a long-term threat to marine life when they are ripped into bits and float out to sea.

Their resolution also says that beyond going against the sort of environmental sustainability Cambridge wants to be known for, Globe Direct has become a serious pain in the ass:

Although many residents have made numerous attempts to opt-out of the circulars and have repeatedly confirmed that they have been unsubscribed with Globe Direct staff, they continue to receive the circulars on a weekly basis ... In some cases, the circular is delivered even when a written notice is posted in front of the dwelling to indicate that the resident does not want to receive it.

Cambridge residents who want to testify on the proposal at the Monday evening meeting at City Hall can call 617-349-4280 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday or sign up in person at City Hall between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.