Cost Benefit Analysis

These calculations are made on the assumption that 1 tablespoon of each product absorbs one tablespoon of oil. Which we see is not the case.

[Online Conversion measures 1 pound to equal 32 tablespoons (us)]
http://www.onlineunitconversion.com/pound_to_tablespoon.US.html

Hair:
http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/human-hair-bulk.html
Cost: No record of buying hair, hair is mostly donated and sent to warehouses for oil spill uses.
Donations History:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14584306/ns/world_news-world_environment/

Hay:
www.canadahay.com
http://www.haybarn.com/reports/listcountry.asp?forsale=0&country=Canada&category=Hay
http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/05/hay-solution-bp-oil-spill-clean-up-florida/
Cost: 30$ (Per 1250 lb Bale)
Includes Cost of Hay and Baling fee (standard, flexible price)

1 tablespoon of hay = 1 tablespoon of oil (1=1)
1 gallon = 256 US tablespoons

Gulf of Mexico Spill = 210,000 gallons per day
210,000 gallons x 256 US tablespoons = 53 760 000 tablespoons spilled per day
You would need the equivalent of 53 760 000 tablespoons of hay

32 tablespoons = 1 pound
1 bale of hay = 1250 pounds
1250 pounds x 32 tablespoons = 40 000 tablespoons of hay per bale
If you needed 53 760 000 tablespoons of hay

53 760 000 tablespoons of hay / 40 000 tablespoons of hay per bale = 1344 bales of hay per day
1344 bales of hay per day x $30 = $40 320 for hay per day

Cotton:
http://www.77canadapharmacy.com/cotton_balls.php
http://www.purespadirect.com/INTRINSICS-Bulk-Cotton-Balls-4000-Pack-p/vu-201504.htm
Cost: 300 cotton balls for $5
2 cotton balls = 1 tablespoon

Gulf of Mexico Spill = 210,000 gallons per day
210,000 gallons x 256 US tablespoons = 53 760 000 tablespoons spilled per day
You would need the equivalent of 107 520 000 cotton balls
107 520 000 cotton balls / 300 cotton balls per bag = 35 840 000 bags of cotton balls
35 840 000 bags of cotton balls x $5 per bag = $179 200 000

Gulf of Mexico Spill = 210,000 gallons per day
210,000 gallons x 256 US tablespoons = 53 760 000 tablespoons spilled per day
You would need the equivalent of 107 520 000 cotton balls
107 520 000 cotton balls / 4000 cotton balls per bag = 26 880 bags of cotton balls
26 880 bags of cotton balls x $30 per bag = $806 400

Sawdust:
http://www.hayexchange.com/bedding/search_bedding.php

Cost: $3.75 (Per bag of 31 lbs)

32 tablespoons = 1 pound
1 bag (31 lbs) = 992 tablespoons of sawdust
992 tablespoons of sawdust = $3.75
53 760 000 tablespoons spilled per day / 992 tablespoons of sawdust = 5420 bags
5420 bags x $3.75 = $203 226