Vicki
Administrator
Nylons, human and dog hair sought to contain oil spill
By MIKE CONDON, Staff Writer
Published: May 14th, 7:10 AM
RANDOLPH TWP. - What do they do with all of that discarded human and animal hair, cut and shorn at local salons and dog grooming parlors daily?
Township resident Susan Stringham has an idea, and it’s one she said is growing across the country, in light of the recent oil spill, which is right now working its way toward Louisiana.
The spill originated from a rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and Stringham said Thursday that she is heartbroken over it.
“I saw an article of the Internet about an organization based in San Francisco that is collecting nylons and hair, and I thought that that was something we could all do right here, locally, to help control the oil spill,†she said.
“We all watch these disasters on TV and wonder what we can do about it. Well there is something we all can do, and collectively, we can make a difference. I want to start it right here,†she said.
“I would love to see all or our citizens including parents, youth, senior citizens, high school, middle school, and elementary school kids get involved,†she said excitedly.
“Apparently, human and dog hair is a very good absorber of oil,†she explained.
The non-profit organization running the nationwide effort is called Matteroftrust.org.
“Thousands of salons mail us hair clippings, swept up off their floors, and the fibers are stuffed into booms or woven into hair mats,†the Web site explains.
“We all know about shampooing our oily hair, but it took Phill McCrory, a stylist from Alabama, to realize that hair was also an efficient and abundant material for collecting and containing petroleum spills,†the web site explains.
“This is something we have in abundance right here,†Stringham said.
“I’d like to get the local salons and dog grooming salons involved. I will be calling as many as I can find,†she said.
“I know it sounds weird, but apparently, this really works. They are shipping these things to the oil spill regions. I was in Alaska before the Exxon Valdez crashed and experienced the pristine beauty of Prince William Sound and all of the many species of wild life there. I was so saddened by the damage that was done to the earth, the water, and the animals.†She said.
“And this is something all of us can do to help. I’d like to make this a community wide effort. We need nylons and we need the combined efforts of hair salons,†she said. She plans on contacting as many school and civic groups as possible.
She said she would like to collect nylons at least through the end of the school year.
“We have to find ways to send them, and we have to start acting now. This oil is going to start hitting the Gulf coast soon,†she said.
“People are already doing this all over the country, and it’s something we can do right here too,†she said.
“This is something that would be great for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and students to get involved in,†she said, adding that a meeting will be scheduled soon.
“Contact me and together we can organize this into a wonderful community wide project.†She said.
“Visit the Web site, and encourage your pet groomers, hair salon owners and your barbers to join us,†she said.
For more information or to help with the effort, contact Stringham via e-mail at: sunny4198@yahoo.com. For more information about the organization and printable information, visit: www.Matteroftrust.org on the Internet.
http://m.recordernewspapers.com/art...h_reporter/news/doc4beaeb053231b652825614.txt
By MIKE CONDON, Staff Writer
Published: May 14th, 7:10 AM
RANDOLPH TWP. - What do they do with all of that discarded human and animal hair, cut and shorn at local salons and dog grooming parlors daily?
Township resident Susan Stringham has an idea, and it’s one she said is growing across the country, in light of the recent oil spill, which is right now working its way toward Louisiana.
The spill originated from a rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and Stringham said Thursday that she is heartbroken over it.
“I saw an article of the Internet about an organization based in San Francisco that is collecting nylons and hair, and I thought that that was something we could all do right here, locally, to help control the oil spill,†she said.
“We all watch these disasters on TV and wonder what we can do about it. Well there is something we all can do, and collectively, we can make a difference. I want to start it right here,†she said.
“I would love to see all or our citizens including parents, youth, senior citizens, high school, middle school, and elementary school kids get involved,†she said excitedly.
“Apparently, human and dog hair is a very good absorber of oil,†she explained.
The non-profit organization running the nationwide effort is called Matteroftrust.org.
“Thousands of salons mail us hair clippings, swept up off their floors, and the fibers are stuffed into booms or woven into hair mats,†the Web site explains.
“We all know about shampooing our oily hair, but it took Phill McCrory, a stylist from Alabama, to realize that hair was also an efficient and abundant material for collecting and containing petroleum spills,†the web site explains.
“This is something we have in abundance right here,†Stringham said.
“I’d like to get the local salons and dog grooming salons involved. I will be calling as many as I can find,†she said.
“I know it sounds weird, but apparently, this really works. They are shipping these things to the oil spill regions. I was in Alaska before the Exxon Valdez crashed and experienced the pristine beauty of Prince William Sound and all of the many species of wild life there. I was so saddened by the damage that was done to the earth, the water, and the animals.†She said.
“And this is something all of us can do to help. I’d like to make this a community wide effort. We need nylons and we need the combined efforts of hair salons,†she said. She plans on contacting as many school and civic groups as possible.
She said she would like to collect nylons at least through the end of the school year.
“We have to find ways to send them, and we have to start acting now. This oil is going to start hitting the Gulf coast soon,†she said.
“People are already doing this all over the country, and it’s something we can do right here too,†she said.
“This is something that would be great for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and students to get involved in,†she said, adding that a meeting will be scheduled soon.
“Contact me and together we can organize this into a wonderful community wide project.†She said.
“Visit the Web site, and encourage your pet groomers, hair salon owners and your barbers to join us,†she said.
For more information or to help with the effort, contact Stringham via e-mail at: sunny4198@yahoo.com. For more information about the organization and printable information, visit: www.Matteroftrust.org on the Internet.
http://m.recordernewspapers.com/art...h_reporter/news/doc4beaeb053231b652825614.txt