New York City has permanently established the Community Syringe Redemption Program, which pays participants up to $10 daily for returning used syringes. The program was quietly included in Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first city budget, with $3 million allocated to continue it beyond its pilot phase.

Participants receive 20 cents per returned syringe, capped at 50 syringes per day, according to the New York City Health Department. The city operates eight redemption sites across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens where enrolled individuals can drop off needles during scheduled hours.

The program began as a pilot in March 2025 following legislation passed in 2022 backed by progressive City Council members. It is managed by Addiction Response Resources, a nonprofit that also runs a similar program in Boston, under an $11.1 million contract extending through the end of 2027.

Sanitation Department data shows a decrease in discarded needles collected this year, with 26,229 so far compared to 64,560 during the same period in 2025.

Funding for the program comes from over $189 million in settlement money received from opioid manufacturers and distributors. Critics argue these funds should prioritize addiction treatment services rather than paying users to return needles. Some voices express concern that the program "is putting money in the pockets of addicts" and caution that it "should not recklessly create conditions that can threaten the safety of vulnerable communities."

Supporters highlight the goal of helping residents "live in a community free of syringe litter."

Sources