The Department of Commerce’s Utah Division of Consumer Protection, in partnership with the University of Utah Sustainability Office, is hosting Declutter Day. This free event is open to Utah consumers and aims to help them safely dispose of sensitive documents, old electronics, and expired medication, as well as donate gently used clothing and household items.
Key Details:
- Date: Friday, April 19
- Time: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Location: Guardsman Way parking lot on the University of Utah campus.
- What to expect: Vehicles may simply drive through the lot, and volunteers and vendors will be there to dispose of these items securely and responsibly.
The event offers an excellent opportunity for people to get a head start on their spring cleaning and declutter their homes. Many Utahns have old hard drives and documents that contain personal information. When disposing of items, it’s vital to do so safely. In 2023 alone, the Federal Trade Commission received 5.4 million reports of identity theft. Events such as Declutter Day provide a secure way for Utahns to dispose of their clutter.
“Often, people either throw away sensitive documents inappropriately or stuff them into a junk drawer to dispose of later,” said Katie Hass, Director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. “We created this event to help Utahns keep their information safe and out of the hands of scammers as they kick off their spring cleaning.”
Declutter Day also provides safe disposal options for old medication and electronic waste. Last year, event vendors discarded over 402 pounds of old medicine and saved landfills from more than 39,000 pounds of harmful electronic waste.
“Both medical and electronic waste have a huge impact on the environment,” said Kara Freedman with the University of Utah’s Sustainability Office. “They both have chemicals that can affect our soil and groundwater if sent to landfills with the regular trash service. That’s why events like Declutter Day are so important—they help us protect the earth and keep our water sources clean.”
Declutter Day is free to the public. Volunteers will unload items at the University of Utah Guardsman Lot (595 Guardsman Way, Salt Lake City) between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Some items, including business waste and harmful chemicals, are NOT ACCEPTED.
Please visit our website at dcp.utah.gov/declutter for a list of unacceptable items. Email questions to [email protected].
