The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has led many to wonder, "How can I help the environment and animals affected by the oil spill?" A non-profit organization called Matter of Trust has developed a unique way for each and every person to help with the oil clean-up operation: donate hair, a pet's fur or nylon leggings.
Fur, nylon and hair donations are transformed into "hair booms" and reusable mats called "Ottomats," which are used to absorb spilled oil.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Explosion and the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
An April 20, 2010 explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico marked the beginning of an environmental crisis that some say could surpass the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in terms of its impact.
As of May 14, 2010, the oil leak — situated more than one mile below the ocean's surface — was spewing an estimated 200,000 gallons per day according to the official Deepwater Horizon response website. After video of the "oil gusher" was released on May 12, 2010, many experts disputed BP's estimates; some pegged the amount of oil spilled into the Gulf at 600,000 to 800,000 gallons per day.
This environmental crisis has led many to wonder, "How can I help with the oil spill clean-up?" One organization has come up with an inventive way to help with the oil spill crisis: donate hair, pet fur and nylons. These items are utilized to create booms and mats that collect the oil.
Donating Hair to Help With the Oil Spill Clean-up
Matter of Trust is a 501(c)3 organization that's dedicated to eco-education and finding environmentally friendly uses for man-made and natural surplus. The Gulf oil spill thrust this organization into the spotlight, as they collect hair, fur and nylons, which are transformed into hair booms. The donations are also used to create absorbent hair mats called "Ottomats." Invented by a stylist in 1989, Ottomats are similar in appearance to a grey blanket-sized Scotch Brite pad. Hair booms and hair mats serve as an environmentally-friendly oil spill clean-up tool.
It's simple to donate fur and hair to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf. Hair/fur can be any length, color or quality. Individuals can donate, as can businesses, including hair salons, pet groomers, along with sheep and alpaca farmers. Nylons are also sought; they can be any color, and they should be in fairly good condition with minor runs only.
In addition to informative videos illustrating how the hair/fur is used and why it's effective, Matter of Trust's website features information on how to register as a donor. Once registered, donors can ship the hair, fur and nylons to a designated location – it's that simple.
Donors can also opt to make hair booms, which are then sent to Matter of Trust; the organization distributes the booms for use in oil spill remediation projects. The hair boom creation process is simple and quick: pantyhose legs are used as sleeves and the hair is stuffed into tubes to create a "snake." The boom is then covered with mesh to provide added durability. The organization's site features an instructional video on how to make hair booms.
Fur and hair is an effective and chemical-free way to collect spilled oil. Other methods like skimming are only moderately effective and chemical dispersants pollute the environment (though when comparing the effects of an oil spill and pollution due to chemical dispersants, the latter is considered the lesser of the two evils.)
Using Fur and Hair to Clean Up Oil Spills
As demonstrated in an informative Matter of Trust video titled "How Hair Soaks Up Oil," hair mats and hair booms are placed in contaminated water; the hair and fur absorb oil. In fact, hair's ability to collect oil is the the reason why shampooing is necessary!
According to Matter of Trust, there is a perpetual need for fur and hair donations. While the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico garnered worldwide attention, there are 2,600 smaller oil spills each year; this releases 726 million gallons of contaminants into the environment. In addition, Matter of Trust says that 363 million gallons of motor oil are released into the ocean on an annual basis.
The need for effective, non-toxic oil spill clean-up methods is very real, as "one quart of oil can contaminate 1 million gallons of drinking water." Matter of Trust says more than 300,000 pounds of fur and hair are cut daily, making this a very viable option for oil spill remediation. While some human hair is utilized for the creation of wigs (and dog and cat fur can be spun into yarn, which is then used to create keepsake knitted or crocheted items), most hair and fur ends up in the trash, so Matter of Trust is encouraging salons, pet groomers and individuals to donate fur and hair for oil spill clean up now and in the future.
To learn more about how to donate hair, fur or nylons, visit MatterOfTrust.org.
Sources:
"Gulf Oil Spill Update for May 14, 2010," by the Associated Press. AssociatedPress.com. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
"Ways to Contribute," on MatterOfTrust.org. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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