Straw Forward Brings The Plastic Straw Pollution Conversation To Pittsburgh

“The finished piece, which is on display at Carnegie Science Center until Feb. 15, is a nine-by-nine-foot square and is more than nine feet tall. It features two main layers: above the water, a massive seagull made out of hundreds of classic white straws flies with outstretched wings and a beak full of seaweed. Under the surface, colorful creatures and corals reside.  An estimated 2,200 hours went into the exhibit’s construction.

“‘We chose the marine scene because ultimately when we think about plastic pollution, a lot of the littered plastics end up in our waterways,’ Bykoski said. ‘They end up on the sidewalk and it rains and they get washed into the storm drains and then they get washed into the river and then from the river they flow down into the ocean.’ . . .

“‘Really this whole project was about creating meaningful conversation around these global issues of plastic pollution, and so in order to do that we need to make sure that we’re incorporating all angles of sustainability, not just environmental but the social as well and understanding that straws and other single-use plastic items can sometimes be a necessity for people with certain disabilities or medical conditions,’ Bykoski said.”

FULL STORY published January 22, 2019 via Pittsburgh Current