this is a clever idea they thought of:    

"A non profit organization is trying to control a national disaster, by collecting hair. Matter of Trust is the organization asking for people to donate boxes of hair so they can make hair mats and hair booms. Those contraptions will be used to soak in the Gulf’s oil spill. Local businesses are participating as well. Bark Avenue and Hair Benders are both planning to send boxes of hair to help. Jamie Stafford, Director at Hair Benders says the business throws away more than 30 gallons of hair every single day.“We have a lot and we're not doing anything with it. It's got to serve a purpose."Matter of Trust claims thousands of pounds of hair have been sent to them so far. The non profit is also asking for nylons, to create hair booms. Hair booms are created by stuffing hair into nylons."

this is what a hair mat.. or hair booms look like: