When our hair gets oily, we reach for the shampoo. This very fact-that hair attracts and absorbs oil-is the basis for an innovative approach to cleaning up oil spills in our waterways. Waste management is an ongoing global problem, and traditional methods of oil spill cleanup often rely on materials that are themselves environmentally problematic. However, human hair, a readily available waste product, offers a sustainable and surprisingly effective alternative.
Hair is naturally hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. It is also a bio-sorbent, meaning it can collect contaminants, including oil. This unique combination of properties makes hair an ideal material for absorbing oil from water. Research from the University of Technology Sydney has indicated that both dog fur and human hair are highly effective at cleaning up oil spills. The concept involves using discarded hair clippings to create hair mats that can absorb oil and filter water.
The idea of using hair to combat oil spills can be traced back to 1989, when Alabama hair stylist Phil McCrory witnessed the devastating effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on sea otters. Noticing how the oil saturated the otters' fur, he wondered if human hair could offer a solution. McCrory experimented with stuffing hair clippings into nylon pantyhose and testing their ability to absorb oil in a wading pool. The results were promising, and he sought confirmation from NASA, whose scientists verified hair's exceptional oil-absorbing capabilities.
In 1998, McCrory partnered with Matter of Trust, a San Francisco-based nonprofit founded by Lisa and Patrice Gautier, to launch the Clean Wave program in 2001. This initiative aimed to collect hair from salons, pet groomers, and individuals to create hair mats and booms for oil spill cleanup.
Hair mats are tightly woven pads made from human hair and animal fur. These mats can be placed in various locations, including storm drains, wells, filtration systems, and rivers, to filter water and remove oil and other pollutants. Hair booms, on the other hand, are sausage-shaped structures filled with hair. They can be used to "sandbag" coves and beaches, preventing soil erosion and protecting natural habitats.
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Matter of Trust produces these mats by collecting hair donations from salons, pet groomers, and individuals. The donated hair is carefully checked for contaminants, separated, and then processed through custom-built felting machines to create the mats. Approximately 500 grams of hair are needed to create a two-foot square, one-inch thick mat, which can absorb up to 1.5 gallons (5.6 liters) of oil.
Matter of Trust's hair mats and booms have been deployed in numerous oil spill cleanup efforts, including the COSCO Busan oil spill in 2007 and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. During the Deepwater Horizon disaster, grassroots volunteers mobilized along the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida to clean their beaches using hair mats and booms provided by Matter of Trust. The organization's efforts also extend to addressing everyday pollution, such as motor oil leaks from roadways. Hair mats placed around storm drains act as natural filters, soaking up oil and trapping debris, preventing these pollutants from entering waterways.
Hair offers several advantages over conventional oil spill cleanup methods. Unlike polypropylene booms, which are derived from oil and can break down into harmful microplastics, hair is a renewable and biodegradable resource. Studies have shown that hair mats can be just as effective as polypropylene in absorbing oil, and in some cases, even more so. Additionally, hair is a readily available and low-cost material, making it a sustainable and economically viable solution.
Lisa Gautier emphasizes the environmental benefits of using hair over traditional methods, stating that "conventional methods involve oil-based chemical dispersants and synthetic absorbent booms, essentially using oil to clean up oil. They are very toxic. When the synthetic booms break apart, the synthetic pellets spread into the environment. When a hair boom breaks apart, it’s just a natural fiber and thus more planet-friendly.”
While hair mats and booms offer a promising solution for oil spill cleanup, some challenges remain. One issue is that the mats are currently single-use and must be disposed of through incineration or composting. However, Megan Murray, an environmental biologist at the University of Technology Sydney, is researching methods to extract the oil from used hair mats, allowing for both the oil and the hair to be reused.
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Matter of Trust is also exploring innovative ways to dispose of the saturated mats, including composting them with fungi, worms, and thermophilic composting to transform the hazardous waste into healthy compost.
Matter of Trust is expanding its network of local partner hubs, which produce mats with locally sourced hair in 17 countries across the globe, including Finland, Japan, Chile, and Rwanda. This decentralized approach reduces the carbon footprint associated with shipping hair and promotes local solutions to environmental problems. Other organizations, such as Green Circle Salons in Canada and Coiffeurs Justes in France, are also collecting hair clippings and creating booms for use in harbors, airports, and other areas.
Individuals can contribute to the Clean Wave movement by donating their hair clippings to Matter of Trust or other participating organizations. When donating hair, it's important to ensure that it is clean, dry, and free of rubber bands, dirt, and other debris. Hair should be placed in an envelope or box for shipping, rather than a plastic bag.
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