How to Get Local Businesses to Give Free Donations to Help Clean Up Oil Spills

When you go to the hairdresser or barber shop to get your hair cut, did you know that those hair clippings could actually be collected and donated to organizations which help clean up oil spills (the most recent being the BP oil leak)? Similarly, if you have your dog or cat groomed, you might not realize that the extra fur can be just as useful. Have some torn, or old nylon hose that you are about to throw away? They, too, are also in demand.

Hopefully, oil spills will become less frequent but - for now - there is an urgent need for hair and fur clippings,nylon hose, wool and other materials that might get tossed out.

With a few simple steps, you could be part of a local and national movement which encourages environmentally friendly alternatives to harmful chemicals currently being used to "clean up" oil spills. Even better? Donations of human hair, pet clippings and other items take little effort to collect and send to areas that desperately need them.

So how can you encourage businesses to donate to oil spill cleanup programs?

Start by Finding an Organization Which Takes Hair, Wool, Pet Clippings, Nylons and Other Items

One excellent choice is Matter of Trust , a program which has a solid reputation for collecting and using hair and other items to help clean up oil spills. Jean Paul Mitchell and others have been sponsors of this organization. Staffers at Matter of Trust have been collecting hair for at least 10 years.

They have a history of storing hair, hosiery and wool and using it to make special booms and mats to sop up oil. If you've ever gone too long without cutting your hair, you know how easily your hair collects - and holds- oil. While having an oily head of hair isn't pleasant, excess hair is very handy when it comes to oil spills.

Oil Spills - Understand How to Collect Hair and Other Materials to Help Out

It is really a very simple process to collect human hair, pet fur and other materials. It only takes a box lined with a plastic bag. If you visit the hairdresser or want to take your dog to your favorite pet groomer, let them know how easy it is to participate.

Generally, each separate hairdresser or pet groomer has a designated box. After a haircut or grooming session, the hair is swept up and put in the box. Any kind of hair, even dyed or processed, can be used, as long as it comes from a human head or is clipped or cut from a dog or cat or certain other animals. Be sure your hairdresser (or anyone else you notify) doesn't accidentally get gum wrappers or other material mixed in with the hair as it is swept from the floor.

Once the bag is full, make sure it is sealed and the box can be closed. Tape it shut and then mail it to the address provided by Matter of Trust (the address is sent by email to those who donate) They can get details from the Matter of Trust website noted above.

What Other Materials Can be Used to Clean Up Oil Spills?

The variety of items is truly staggering. Even horse hair or feathers from chickens or other birds can be used. Excess wool and alpaca fleece is in demand as are nylon hose. Hanes has already donated nylon hose to Matter of Trust to help in the effort to clean up oil spills.

Be Able to Explain What Happens to Items Donated to Help Clean up Oil Spills

Human hair, pet fur, feathers and other materials are turned in special booms which can surround and help limit oil spills. A video can be seen here on YouTube. So spread the word about using safe and environmentally friendly products to help with with Gulf Coast oil spill. Even after that crisis is controlled, Matter of Trust and other organizations can stockpile any extra donations to be used as needed.