Desperate times call for desperate—or at least somewhat bizarre—measures, and the situation in the Gulf of Mexico is looking increasingly desperate. You’ve probably been following the progress of the oil leak, which as of Monday is estimated to be adding 200,000 gallons or more of oil to the gulf daily.
One organization is taking action by collecting a substance that absorbs oil, hoping to manufacture enough absorbent mats and oil booms to collect a significant amount of oil before it reaches land. The substance? Hair. Human hair, animal fur, wool—apparently it doesn’t matter, but the group, Matter of Trust, is asking barber shops, beauty salons, and pet groomers to package up leftover clippings and send them to one of the locations in the gulf states where volunteers will assemble the booms, mostly by packing the hair into recycled nylon stockings.
Does it work? I don’t really know. There is a YouTube video available showing how mats made of hair work to absorb oil on a small scale. Is it worth a try? At this point, why not? You can find more information on the group’s efforts here.
According to the group, 300,000 pounds of hair and fur are trimmed each day in the US. If you’re inclined to spread the word to businesses in your area that might be able to provide some of the raw materials needed, take a look at the Matter of Trust’s Web site or video and pass along the information.