An apparatus for the collection of pollutants may comprise at least one porous container including an outer boundary material defining an inner space of the container, and a volume of collection material formed from the floss of certain plants, with the collection material being buoyant. A method of collecting pollutants from a body of water may comprise providing a plurality of porous containers with inner spaces, positioning milkweed floss in the inner spaces of the containers, and placing the floss-filled containers in the body of water adjacent to a pollutant.