this invention relates to improvements in products and processes for cleaning up oil , chemical , or other hydrocarbon spills , and cleaning up the environment where such spills have occurred . in one aspect of the invention , there is provided an adsorbent polymeric composition which is oleophilic and capable of adsorption of other chemicals and hydrocarbons from both land and water , the adsorbent composition including polyethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer , catalyst , cross - linking agent , lubricant , blowing agent and a bulking agent . in a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacture of an adsorbent composition for use in retrieving and recycling oil , chemicals and hydrocarbons from land or water environments .