Every year, Americans throw away 50 billion food and drink cans,27 billion glass bottles and jars,and 65 million plastic and metal jar and can covers. More than 30 % of our waste is packaging materials. Where does it all go? Some 85 % of our garbage is sent to a dump, or landfill, where it can take from 100 to 400 years for thing like cloth and aluminum to decompose. Glass has been found in perfect condition after 4,000 years in the earth