Clean and Clever Business - Tips

Here’s some ways to reduce water consumption at your work.

• Do a water audit (www.nabers.gov.au) or have one done by a qualified company
• Monitor your usage. You may have to ask your landlord for this information
• Rectify leaks – a dripping tap can lose 5000 litres each year!
• Could water be filtered and re-used, either within the process or elsewhere?
• Prepare a Water Management Plan for your workplace. Things to consider in the plan include: dual flush toilets, waterless urinals, flow controlled showerheads & taps, electronic taps, grey water recycling, rainwater harvesting

Do you work in or own a hairdressing salon? Did you know that hair can be used to clean up oil spills?  ‘Ottimats’ (www.ottimat.ca) were designed by a hair stylist in the US after watching the 1989 Valdez oil spill on TV. In an experiment conducted at home, Phil McCory stuffed hair clippings into a pair of his wife’s pantyhose and poured motor oil into his son’s paddling pool. He then placed the hair filled pantyhose into the oil and water.  He pulled it out after a few minutes and to his surprise, all of the oil was out of the pool and the water was crystal clear. US scientists have also successfully experimented with this method of oil collection. After the hair mats have been used, they layer them with fungal spores which eat the residual oil. After 12 weeks the piles of hair and fungal spores have become non-toxic compost.

The ‘Ottimat’ is commercially available and we are currently researching its availability, or if hair donations can be made in Australia. We’ll keep you posted!