AKRON (June 15, 2010) — Instead of heading to the landfill, used nylons that have spent time on the legs of Hooters Girls from across the country will help sop up spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
In “Project Pantyhose,” Hooters of America Inc. is hoping to collect more than 100,000 pairs of torn nylons from its employees and send them to environmental agencies and non-profits such as Indigo Ocean and Matter of Trust. These companies will stuff the nylons with hair, fur and fleece to absorb the oil.
The companies estimate the nylons have the potential to absorb up to a million gallons of oil, according to Mike McNeil, Hooters vice president of marketing.
“The Hooters Girls friendly service has just become environmental friendly as well,” Mr. McNeil said.
All of the company's 380 U.S. properties will collect used nylons for the next four weeks. The nylons will make up about 15 miles of boom, he said.
“Matter of Trust would like to thank Hooters for its support and generosity to the Gulf Spill Clean Up Program,” said Lisa Gautier, president of Matter of Trust, a non-profit organization with the stated mission to “link ideas, spark action and materialize sustainable systems.” The nylon booms will be used to protect harbors and sensitive marshlands, she said.
Indigo Ocean is both the name of a weblog and its creator, who says on her website that her primary focus is on “sharing resources and information that you can practically apply in your life to create more fulfillment and growth.”
This report appeared in Waste & Recycling News, an Akron-based sister publication of Tire Business.