Actually, the garbage patch is almost ALL plastic, so glass is much, much better because it "breaks down" and/or is shattered and therefore doesn't contribute to the garbage patch. To be honest, you sound somewhat environmentally ignorant for a Hawaiian, which is contrary to most Hawaiians that I know.

Personally, I avoid consumable plastics as much as possible. Almost all drinks that I purchase are in glass (beer/water/wines/some juices ... which is very common in Germany), and all of my non-glass stuff is Tetra Pak ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetra_Pak

which means that I can store my milk/some juices at room temperature for months until I open it. Given that it's usually purchased in 1L increments, I only need to refrigerate the opened package for a day or so until it's consumed, so I also require a smaller fridge, which reduces my energy consumption and environmental footprint.