Materials science--the science of stuff--has made our lives better by making it possible for manufacturers to supply us with products. Students have misconceptions about materials use. Many may think using bottled water, for example, is harmless because they recycle the plastic empties, but they fail to consider the resources and energy used to produce, transport, and recycle something that, in any case, is superfluous in a city that has safe drinking water. This article describes a series of lessons in which students investigate the technological and engineering ingenuity involved in making materials--and also the environmental ramifications. The aim is to equip students to make informed choices about materials use and disposal. The unit addresses the technology and engineering of materials, including plastics, ceramics, wood, metals, alloys, and composites. The driving question is "How do we safely dispose of all this stuff?" As part of the unit, students act as consultants to help the school green club create advertising that informs the student body about materials, packaging, and the garbage produced as well as the concepts of reduce, reuse, and recycle. The unit, written for five 75-minute classes, aligns with the "Next Generations Science Standards" (NGSS Lead States 2013)