The Utah Division of Consumer Protection (Division) is honored to announce that Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox has officially declared April 18, 2025, as Declutter Day in Utah, leading up to the Division’s annual Declutter Day event. The Division and its partner, the University of Utah’s Sustainability Office, offer this community event to help Utah residents safely dispose of sensitive documents and electronics, reducing the risk of identity theft and fraud. This year’s event will take place on Friday, April 18th from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Utah Guardsman Lot.
Declutter Day provides a convenient and secure opportunity for individuals to shred documents that may contain private or personally identifiable information, such as bank statements, tax records, and medical bills. Participants can also safely dispose of old electronics, including computers, hard drives, and cell phones, ensuring their data is properly destroyed and e-waste is handled responsibly.
“Identity theft is among the highest reported crimes reported to the Federal Trade Commission within the State of Utah,” said Katie Hass, Director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. “We encourage citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to safely dispose of any old items that may contain personally identifiable information to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.”
Free Declutter Day Services:
- Document Shredding: Columbus Shredding will provide secure on-site shredding services to destroy sensitive paper documents.
- Electronics Disposal: Tams Recycling will provide secure disposal services for computers and old electronics
- Household Item Donation: Donate old and gently used items to the Otherside Academy, a nonprofit organization that helps those recovering from substance use disorders.
- Medication Disposal and Medical Equipment Donation: Safely discard old medications and donate previously used supportive devices, courtesy of the University of Utah Campus Police and Project Embrace.
- Educational Resources: Division representatives will be available to provide information on consumer protection resources and fraud awareness.
Although reports of identity theft in Utah to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have been steadily declining since 2020, the agency still received over 5,000 reports in 2024. Properly disposing of sensitive information can help continue this downward trend.
For more information about Declutter Day, including a list of acceptable items for disposing or donating, please visit the official event page: https://dcp.utah.gov/declutter/.
