There are several things you can do to help minimize your impact and help Vancouver reach its zero waste goal. Recycling is the best starting point. Along with proper household waste management, collectively every Vancouverite will be able to make a significant impact. Here are some resources.
It is important to know what goes in what bin. A lot of the consumables that we use can be recycled for material that goes into the manufacture of other consumables. It also ensures that only non-recyclable waste ends up in the landfills. Segregating waste products before they are collected also saves time and money when the waste gets to recycling centers or landfills. Here are some resources that will help you get started and give you an idea of what goes into what bin: Garbage guide and Waste Wizard
There are some things you can segregate at home, but there are plenty of other things that need to be handled with special care. Batteries for example need to be handled with care as they may contain hazardous materials and some of it could be recycled. Find out where you can get certain things recycled here: Metro Vancouver Recycles