Kids learn by seeing you do it.

My daughter and grand kids have been to Germany and see the importance of recycling. Everybody does it. They even lock their trash cans because they get fined if the wrong items are in the wrong bins.

today

today

Half Answer: Take child past Large Box Store with transit & foot traffic nearby and they should see a recyclable graveyard with wispy plastic bag ghosts flitting about in the breeze! The second half uses your creativity in discussion about the scary sights outside; how they're getting larger ~ Deadlier.
Mention how the animals, fresh water, and drain pipes are affected.
Make it age appropriate (√: