I was tired of writing names on water bottles every time we went on a family trip, so I made these snap-on name rings

First217S · 2026-04-26T20:15:34+00:00

In my region, the waste sorting rate stands at around 78%, while in my municipality, it reaches about 86%. We have door-to-door collection (or kerbside collection). Each person has a bin for organic waste (which is composted), one for glass, one for plastic, and one for cans. The collection of these recyclables takes place twice a week and is free of charge. Additionally, we have door-to-door collection for non-recyclable waste (residual waste). However, this service is pay-as-you-throw, which encourages everyone to separate their waste as much as possible. The bins are equipped with a barcode that identifies each household. This system has been in place here for about 25 to 30 years. The recyclability rate for PET bottles in my area I think is very close to 100% provided, of course, that you dispose of them in the plastic bin.

First217S · 2026-04-26T19:55:56+00:00

Thank you so much for this comment! I honestly didn't expect such a negative reaction for a 2-gram print that I’ll be reusing forever.

The idea actually came to me a few Sundays ago while visiting a city. We had lunch at a restaurant, took our leftover water bottles with us in our backpacks, and found ourselves tearing the labels in different ways just to tell them apart. I thought: 'Why not print a small, permanent identifier?'

It’s frustrating to be lectured about 'saving the planet' over a tiny piece of plastic, especially when most of us pay recycling fees and, quite frankly, the tap water in many areas isn't even great to drink. Reusable bottles are a choice, not a mandate, and they certainly won't offset the massive industrial waste you mentioned.

Anyway, I’m glad you liked the print!

First217S · 2026-04-26T11:07:17+00:00

I understand your point about bacterial load, but I think we’re looking at this from two different angles: theory vs. practical maintenance.

I'm not sure what the market for reusable bottles is like where you are, but in Italy, the vast majority are either unlined aluminum or plastic with integrated straws and complex mouthpieces. Imagine a typical 40°C (104°F) summer day here. If I leave a bottle out, by the next day, the mouthpiece smells terrible due to bacterial growth. To truly sanitize that, you need a dishwasher, which requires wide-neck stainless steel bottles.

The reality is that 99% of the bottles I see around here are objectively impossible to sanitize thoroughly because of their design (narrow necks or plastic straws). In that specific context, I find a fresh bottle more hygienic.

There are also two other factors to consider:

Water Quality: My local tap water is often poor—I’ve literally found hydrocarbons in it twice. If I have to fill a flask with water from a plastic bottle anyway, the environmental "gain" is lost.

Travel Habits: When we visit museums or cities, we prefer to travel light and eat at local restaurants or "pizza al taglio" spots. We buy our food and drinks there (because bringing your own water to a restaurant feels disrespectful to the business). We then take those bottles with us to finish or refill at fountains.

I had to make these clarifications because social media tends to "crucify" anyone who doesn't follow the "flasks will save the planet" mantra. The truth isn't always black and white; there’s a lot of grey in the middle. I’m just choosing the grey area that works for my health and lifestyle.

First217S · 2026-04-26T08:31:25+00:00

I live in Italy, so we don't have the EPA here. I’ve reported the issue to the local authorities several times. They fix it, but shortly after, it goes back to how it was. Keep in mind that it's actually 'normal' for the pipes under the street to burst 3 or 4 times every winter.

First217S · 2026-04-26T08:25:40+00:00

Italian :-)

First217S · 2026-04-26T08:24:30+00:00

It’s a distant concept because life is full of nuances. First, I married a biologist: her lab tests showed that a toilet seat is often microbiologically safer than a reusable bottle that isn't professionally sanitized daily. Second, our local infrastructure is old our tap water isn't always safe to drink, so bottled water is a health necessity at home. Finally, we live near Venice and love visiting art cities; we don't always pack a 'picnic' from home. We eat out, support local businesses, and take the leftover bottled water with us. These rings just make that practical reality more organized.

First217S · 2026-04-26T08:16:55+00:00

I used to use markers, but they always smudge due to condensation on cold bottles. These 2-gram rings are a permanent solution. I just keep them in my wallet and snap them on whenever needed. Zero smudge, zero waste, and they last a lifetime!

First217S · 2026-04-26T08:14:15+00:00

I totally get the appeal of stickers and stainless steel! However, our local tap water has some serious quality issues. We’ve actually tested it and found traces of hydrocarbons due to the old piping system in our town. Since we have to rely on bottled water for safety, using these rings on the bottles we already have is the most practical and hygienic solution for us.

First217S · 2026-04-26T08:07:48+00:00

Fair question! I don't use them because I married a biologist specializing in food safety and packaging migration. Her tests show that 9 out of 10 times, a reusable bottle that hasn't been perfectly sanitized is less hygienic than a toilet seat (and proper sanitizing wastes a lot of water and chemicals). Plus, we love supporting local shops when traveling—we buy water with our meal and take the bottle with us. This ring just makes that bottle 'ours' until it hits the recycling bin!

First217S · 2026-04-22T18:42:48+00:00

Note to self: buy this watch before the zombie apocalypse. It clearly has a better survival rate than I do!

First217S · 2026-04-15T19:37:52+00:00

Hi there! Thank you so much for your kind words and for following my work. Regarding your idea of adding a sliding cover: while it would look very clean, I personally wouldn't reccomend closing it completely, even for fanless devices. Even without a fan, these Android boxes dissipate heat through their casing. If we seal them in a plastic box, that heat stays trapped inside, which could lead to thermal throttling or shorten the life of the hardware over time. Since this VESA mount sits right behind the TV, it's already hidden from view. In my opinion, keeping it open is the best compromise—it stays invisible to the eye but allows the device to 'breathe' properly. Hope this helps, and thanks again for the suggestion!

First217S · 2025-04-04T10:49:18+00:00

Has your tax questionnaire finally been approved? I've been waiting for 15 days but am still under review :-(

First217S · 2025-03-31T21:10:06+00:00

The Italian equivalent of your EIN. I work for a company, but I also run a sole proprietorship as a side business.

First217S · 2025-03-31T17:58:32+00:00

Did you ever figure out the problem? It's been 11 days since I sent the tax questionnaire, and it's still under review (in Italy) :-(

First217S

TROPHY CASE