Tennessee authorized syringe services programs under TCA 68-1-136 in 2017 with local approval. Nashville Metro authorized syringe services through MPHD partners; used sharps must be sealed in rigid containers and never placed loose in trash or recycling.
Under TCA 68-1-136, syringe services programs in Tennessee require local government endorsement and TN Department of Health registration. Metro Council and MPHD support programs operating in Nashville that distribute sterile syringes, naloxone, and HIV/HCV testing while collecting used sharps for safe disposal. Households should place needles, lancets, and pen needles into FDA-cleared sharps containers or sturdy puncture-resistant bottles labeled DO NOT RECYCLE, then drop them at participating pharmacies, MPHD clinics, or Metro convenience centers per posted schedules. Placing loose syringes in curbside bins endangers sanitation workers.
Disposing loose syringes in residential trash or recycling, dumping medical sharps at parks, or operating an unauthorized exchange without TN registration can lead to citations and program shutdown.
Nashville, TN
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See how Nashville's syringe disposal rules stack up against other locations.
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