Yellow Alert
OK, we know junkies function in a pstate of psychedelic psemi-distraction at the best of times but this needle drop box and accompanying sign from East London, UK takes the concept of overkill to a new high… so to speak. THREE arrows, really? As for the “DISPOSE OF YOUR USED SYRINGES HERE” text, why not just print that on the bin’s cover, red over yellow – it would fit perfectly while negating the need for a stand-alone sign AND that trio of arrows. (image via Gordon Joly)
You Gotta Look Sharpie
You know who else likes to use sharpies? But enough about politics, we’re here to discuss needle depository bins like this blood-red “SHARPS-tainer” from San Francisco, CA. While we salute the graphic designers at Medical Action Industries Inc for following any and all labeling guidelines, they could’ve been a bit more explicit as to the purpose of the bin instead of leaving it to an anonymous amateur with a penchant for the obvious. (image via Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures)
Buttoned Down Under
Speaking of obvious, check out this battered bin from Adelaide, Australia: no frills, no chills, no overkill when it comes to getting the message across. Those buttons though… you just know that sooner or later, some spaced-out junkie’s gonna wonder what’s taking the darned elevator so long to arrive. (image via Michael Coghlan)
Black Drops
‘Frisco again… does that city have a thing for shock, awe and horror or what? Take this ominous & imposing Big Black Box of Biohazards – and pity the poor city sanitation worker who gets to empty it. The photographer shot this photo near the Civic Center in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Shot though the heart and you’re to blame? You give syringe disposal boxes a bad name. (image via Melinda Young Stewart)
A Sinful Plan
We won’t speculate on the meaning of this sharpie’d graffiti and the photographer offers no hint of where the needle drop-box is (or was, as of March 2019). Instead, we invite the reader to zoom in on the corporate logo embossed into the lower left corner of the box’s case… yep, it’s “COVIDIEN”. Although Ireland-based Covidien was bought out by Medtronic in early 2015, their peculiarly “infectious” brand name is still in use today. They’ll likely need it once the long-promised COVID-19 vaccine finally makes it to market. (image via incommunicado)
Do you prefer your warning signs to reference legal “drugs”? Check out Butt Out: A Dozen International No Smoking Signs!

