All recyclable items must be separated from your garbage. If you don't separate items, they don't get recycled. Also, just because an item has the universal recycling symbol on it, it does not mean that the city will accept it. Only items that have resale value for the city are accepted. All containers must be rinsed out.
Labels can remain on containers.
It is also illegal to use blue bags or recycling containers for regular trash. If the rules of the recycling program are not followed, the city will issue fines. Chances are however, the perpetrators will not be the ones who get the ticket. It will usually be the superintendent or member of the building staff who actually puts the trash out for collection. Help these folks out by being responsible for sorting the acceptable recyclables from your garbage.