New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani quietly embedded $3 million into his $126 billion city budget to permanently fund a program that pays drug users cash for returning used syringes, transforming what began as a pilot initiative into an ongoing taxpayer-funded operation.

Twenty Cents Per Needle, Ten Dollars Daily

The Community Syringe Redemption Program compensates participants 20 cents for each used syringe returned, with a daily limit of 50 syringes or $10, according to the New York City Health Department. The city currently operates eight redemption sites across four boroughs, with five locations concentrated in the Bronx and one each in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Enrolled participants drop off used needles during scheduled collection hours at designated sites throughout the city.

Since launching in March 2025, the program has collected more than 2.3 million used syringes over approximately 16 months of operation. During the first year, city officials distributed roughly $292,000 in cash payments to over 1,700 participants. The initiative operates under an $11.1 million contract with Addiction Response Resources, a nonprofit organization that runs similar syringe programs in Boston.

Opioid Settlement Money Diverted From Treatment

The city funds the program using more than $189 million in settlement money received from major opioid manufacturers and distributors. Queens Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola criticized this allocation, arguing the opioid settlement funds should exclusively support addiction treatment services rather than paying users to return needles for cash. She contends the program puts money in the pockets of addicts instead of addressing the underlying addiction crisis.

Bronx Democratic Councilman Oswald Feliz acknowledged the program’s role in removing discarded syringes but cautioned against creating conditions that might threaten vulnerable community safety. One participant, Tamia Wright, 43, described returning used needles at a Bronx park as a definite side hustle, stating she planned to spend the money on marijuana and cigarettes.

Mixed Results on Street Safety

Sanitation Department data shows workers collected 26,229 discarded needles through the current reporting period this year, down from 64,560 during the same timeframe in 2025. City health officials defend the initiative as reducing dangerous syringe litter in neighborhoods frequently reporting discarded needles. Health Department spokesperson Rachel Vick stated the program helps residents live in communities free of syringe litter while safely disposing medical waste and connecting people with nearby care services. Critics maintain the settlement funds represent a missed opportunity to expand addiction treatment capacity across the city.