So to encourage people to stop smashing their bottles in the streets and recycle them instead,  Paul Ketz came up with the Pfandring.

It’s a simple, ring-like installation which is made to fit around public garbage bins. In a way, you could think of it as a bottle rack where empty bottles of booze or soda can be placed on.

When some green-minded and environmentally-friendly folks happen upon any filled Pfandrings, they can grab the bottles and drop them off at the nearest recycling center to make some extra cash. It’s a neat idea that can benefit a lot of people and the environment at the same time.

[via Urbansh*t via Pop Up City]

I am amazed by people making ships in bottles, but I at least know some of the tricks as to how they do it. I’m extra impressed at putting something as big as a TARDIS in a bottle. How in the hell did they do that? It could be a devious trap by The Master, but it is actually a project made by hpotterwizard.

The materials used are balsa, wood glue, a glass bottle, a cork, sand and more patience than I have. Looks like you can put time (and space) in a bottle after all.

[Craftster via craftzine]

It’s extremely elastic and stretchy and comes in a whole host of loud colors. The Freaker also swears that it can fit over anything and everything and keep your drinks either cool or warm, as you like them.

Fit it over champagne bottles, beer cans, juice bottles, wine glasses, and even your own arm! These guys have been in the biz for a while now but the people behind Freaker have recently launched a new project to produce a special edition Kickstarter Freaker.

Fancy a Freaker with shades of blue or a pink one with a white skull in the middle? There are currently 30 designs for the Freaker so you might want to start collecting ‘em if they’re up your alley.

There’s a whole list of offers and various Freaker packs they’re giving away to backers who pledge $25 or more. They’re also promising to throw you and your friends a BBQ or Grilled Cheese party for pledges ranging in the $2,000-$3,000 zone in the official Freaker box truck.

Want to get freaky? Check out their Kickstarter video below to learn more (and to get a few laughs.) If you’re sold on the idea, then head on over to Kickstarter to give a pledge.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The time-lapse video is really cool and the builder, Julie Morley, had to create her own tools for the construction. The tools appear to be wooden sticks with small LEGO bricks glued to the end. She sticks one of the tools into the opening to hold the ship down and then sticks the other in with the next brick attached and so on. Check out the video below to watch the ship being built, and then make your own if you are so inclined.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Julie notes that the project took about a week to plan and about three days to build. She also admits to uttering “more than a few” expletives during the process.

[via Brothers-Brick]

The bottle opening part is just what you expect and will pry those lids off your bottle with ease. The cool factor comes in the handle of the opener that is made to catch those caps. Generally those caps end up on the ground or sitting on tables where your friends happen to be drinking, but not with this thing. The caps slide down in to the handle/container after you open the bottle.

This is the perfect thing for the sort of drinker that likes to be able to give the complete rundown on how many of what beer they drank in any given night. There is no word on when or if this concept will hit stores for you to buy. The concept isn’t complex and looks very doable to me.

[via YankoDesign]

If you have ever tried to mix a protein drink you know that it’s impossible this side of one of those paint can shakers to get all the powder to dissolve. That undissolved powder settles into the side of the water bottle where it forms the hardest substance known to man. The only sure fire way to clean that stuff is to let the bottle soak for a millennia until the dried goo succumbs to water erosion, or you can scrub really hard. I prefer the soaking method.

A company has a new geeky bottle that reminds me of the bottles my kids drank out of when they were infants. The bottle is called the Clean Bottle and has a top and a bottom that unscrews. The removable bottom means you can actually clean the bottom with minimal effort. All water bottles should be like this. Each bottle holds 22 ounces of liquid and costs $9.95 (USD) each. That’s not cheap for a water bottle, but if you hate to scrub it’s worth it.

The company has announced that you can order up a six-pack with customized bottles. There are 42 different designs that you can choose from. In addition to choosing your own design, you can also upload pics and add your own slogan to the bottles.

This might be perfect for those boozehound bridal parties. The downside is that it takes a couple weeks to get your custom beer and the stuff costs a pricey $38 (USD) for a six-pack.

Now I don’t remember Pac-Man having such mighty incisors, but I guess in order to open a beer bottle he had to get some dental implants.

[via Likecool]

If you are a beer drinker or drink soda in bottles made of glass, you probably throw away lots of glass bottles or perhaps you recycle them in those boring plastic bins out front. A dude from Chicago that likes his beer and soda recycles his bottles in a very interesting way. Nick Paul is a glassblower. He takes the empties and turns them into glasses you can keep using.

Apparently, he takes the bottles, heats the glass, and then blows the neck and mouth of the bottle to the size of the bottom making glasses. They are pretty darn cool and I could see these things selling very well if he were to open a store. Oh wait, he does have a store. Plus he gets to drink all the beverages before he makes the glasses.

[via Make:]

Open a bottle of your favorite beer! Vrooom! Or a miniature bottle of your favorite whiskey! Vrooom! Or grape-flavored Fanta! Vr…ooom? The motorcycle grip bottle opener sells for $10 (USD) at Drinking Stuff. Batteries included.

[via GearDiary]

I’ve never seen these R2D2 water bottles before today, but I want one for the next time I leave the comfort of my climate-controlled basement to go outside to get some fresh air and exercise. That is, assuming I could fill it with Grape Tang and vodka instead of water while I saunter down the sidewalk in my Stormtrooper outfit.

Unfortunately, if you live outside of Japan you might have a hard time finding one of these. But if you happen to speak both Japanese and Protocol Droid-ese, you can find the R2D2 Water Bottle over at Tanomi for ¥3,300 (appx. $37 USD).

The latest in a series of merchandise Taito has issued for the 30th anniversary (now I feel really old) of the classic arcade game, these durable aluminum bottles are perfect for bikers, hikers or generally outdoorsy types. Now, the intersection of people who fit that description AND who like Space Invaders is probably close to infinitesimal, so I guess that’s why they’re only making a limited number of these.

Expected to ship in April 2008, you can pre-order one of the three designs from video game import shop NCSX for $12.50 each.

In keeping with Apple’s DRM (Drinker’s Rights Management) policies, the iDrink opener will only open bottles which have been purchased from the iDrink store (99 cents each). In addition, the opener features a built-in battery pack that can only be changed by the manufacturer.

While Sonic hasn’t officially revealed whether or not they plan to sell these, I have it on good authority that they will initially sell for $5.99, then drop in price by $2.00 about 2 months after release.

[via Core77]

This new technology from Ipifini, called “Choice-Enabled Packaging,” provides bottles of soda with multiple flavor “buttons,” which can be pressed to create your own customized soft drink flavors.

A programmable bottle with four flavors and a caffeine button can produce up to 32 unique concoctions. A six-button prototype has been produced which can create 64 combinations. Bring on those cherry lime vanilla sodas!

[via Technovelgy via CNET]