Efforts to cut waste in Austin have stalled in recent years, according to Austin Resource Recovery. In fact, more than half of recyclable materials in Austin are still getting thrown in the trash. A new survey from the group aims to find out why. “We recognize that this is a community problem and requires citizens’ participation,” said Austin Resource Recovery Director Bob Gedert in an announcement about the survey. “We are seeking insights from a diverse pool of residents and will report the lessons we learn and actions the City plans to take.” People who wish to participate can take the online survey or simply text their thoughts to 512-580-7778.

The Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. To commemorate the milestone yesterday, the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services partnered with other Health and Human Services state agencies, stakeholders and community affiliates to host the ADA 25th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony: “Empowerment, Independence, and Access for All.” According to a press release about the event, “Attendees viewed artwork of students from The Arc of the Capital Area and VSA Texas, and United Access provided demonstrations of modified vehicles and various assistive technologies that allow a person with a disability to drive.” In other ADA news, ADAPT Texas filed 14 lawsuits yesterday against local businesses (and food trucks) for failing to provide adequate access. The story was reported by the Austin American-Statesman, here.

Nonprofit organizations experienced in providing home repair and rehabilitation services may qualify for a grant from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation. The organization has announced the availability of $1.2 million in funding for nonprofits that participate in the Holly Good Neighbor Program. The program, which is available to low- and moderate-income homeowners affected by the Holly Power Plant, funds home repairs that address a set of issues defined by the program as Healthy Homes Housing Hazards. An individual house can qualify for a grant worth up to $20,000. According to the city of Austin’s announcement about the funding, the program also “seeks to remove logistical barriers between local organizations currently operating home repair programs, reduce or eliminate waiting lists, and build the capacity of local nonprofits to provide these specific types of home repairs for qualified people.” Applications are due on Aug. 10 by 3 p.m., and a meeting for applicants will be held ahead of the deadline at 10 a.m. on Aug. 3 at the office of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation. More information on eligibility requirements and the application process is available here.

Austin Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin will moderate a discussion tonight on sustainable development and the role of city code as part of the Beers, Brains, and Betterment series. The panelists will include CodeNEXT Code Advisory Group member Jim Duncan, Austin planning watchdog Jeff Jack, AURA executive board member Steven Yarak and city of Austin CodeNEXT representative Matthew Lewis. The event takes place at the North Door, 502 Brushy St., 6:30-9 p.m. Beers, Brains, and Betterment is a monthly series of free discussions hosted by the Capital of Texas Media Foundation/Austin Monitor. To RSVP, go here.

Every day is now Opposite Day in the City Hall parking garage. Beginning today, the entrance and exit will be permanently switching roles in order to facilitate better traffic flow around City Hall. All traffic will enter the garage from Guadalupe Street (formerly the employee/contract entrance) and exit onto Lavaca Street. The switch comes after a month of preparation that included changes to the gates, signage, markings and pay stations in the garage. For those who like visual aids, a map of the new configuration is available here.

The Texas Department of Transportation and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority are hosting a public hearing this week regarding proposals for easing congestion on MoPac at the Slaughter Lane and La Cross Avenue intersection. The event – which takes place Thursday, July 30, in the Bowie High School cafeteria – begins with an open house at 5 p.m., followed by a technical presentation and public comment period at 6 p.m. A draft version of the Environmental Assessment of the proposed projects is available for review ahead of the meeting, both online and in print at the offices of TxDOT, 7901 N. I-35, and CTRMA, 3300 N. I-35, Suite 300. Public commentary on the project will be accepted via a virtual public hearing July 30 – Aug. 10.

According to a press release from the Federal Emergency Management Association, a Disaster Recovery Center in Blanco County is scheduled to close Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. In the wake of natural disasters such as the heavy flooding in Central Texas last spring, FEMA has been setting up DRCs to help people access assistance programs. For now, the Blanco County DRC – located at the Gem of the Hills Community Center, 2233 N. U.S. Highway 281 – remains open six days a week: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the meantime, FEMA mitigation specialists are also setting up shop at area home improvement stores to share information, in both English and Spanish, about protecting homes from flooding and safely managing mold and mildew. Currently, FEMA advisers are available in Kyle, at the Lowe’s Home Improvement store, 5753 Kyle Parkway, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., July 23-28. Flood mitigation information is also available on FEMA’s website.

The monthly Beers, Brains and Betterment series is back with a sold-out – sort of – discussion on the economics of Imagine Austin, hosted by the Capital of Texas Media Foundation/Austin Monitor. Although all RSVPs are in, anyone wishing to attend can still register for a standby ticket. It won’t guarantee admittance, but we anticipate room for standby attendees, given that it’s unlikely all RSVP ticketholders will attend. This month’s discussion will delve into issues of sustainable development, growth management and the role of city code. Panelists include CodeNEXT Code Advisory Group member Jim Duncan, Austin planning watchdog Jeff Jack, AURA executive board member Steven Yarak and city of Austin CodeNEXT representative Matthew Lewis. Austin Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin will moderate. The event will take place Monday, July 27, 6:30 to 9 p.m., at the North Door, 502 Brushy St.

A portion of Uhland Road in San Marcos will close for four hours on Saturday morning. The section of Uhland that becomes a low-water crossing at the Blanco River will be blocked off from 8 a.m. to noon. During that time, Time Warner Cable will be setting up equipment ahead of a planned installation of a communications cable. Travelers in the area will need to find alternate routes. Visit the Hays County website for more information on availability of low-water crossings.

Keep Bastrop County Beautiful is hosting the Bastrop River Rally this weekend, a now-annual event after the success of last year’s original, for which 80 volunteers showed up to help clean a 6-mile stretch of the Colorado River, some by foot and others by canoe. The event is much bigger this year, featuring a roundup of activities including the river cleanup plus a 4.5-mile Bastrop River Run/Walk, a traveling exhibit from the Colorado River Coalition, a keynote address and environmental briefing from County Judge Paul Pape, and a party with live music at Neighbor’s Kitchen and Yard. The rally takes place Sunday, July 26 from 7 a.m. to noon. To learn more or register for the event, visit the Bastrop River Rally website.

MonkeyWrench Books will be hosting a screening Thursday evening of “Austin While Black,” a new Web series from journalists Evelyn Ngugi and Doyin Oyeniyi highlighting the lives of black Austinites. As described on the show’s website, the series tells “the stories that often get left out of discussions about Austin’s past, present, and future.” Tonight’s screening will include the first four episodes, which feature photographer Hakeem Adewumi, hip-hop group Magna Carda, restaurateur Nubian Queen Lola and dancer China Smith. Ngugi and Oyeniyi will lead a discussion on each episode. The event will be held at MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop Blvd., from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

It’s been a big news week for Austin cats and their people. First, last weekend’s KittyPalooza oversaw a record number of adoptions, and now this: As Austin Eater reports, the Blue Cat Cafe is one step closer to becoming a reality after owner Rebecca Gray signed a lease at 95 Navasota St. As the name suggests, the Blue Cat Cafe – which since February has raised more than $60,000 through crowdsourced funding – will be a cafe with cats. According to Blue Cat Cafe’s website, it will be “a place to hang out, pet kitties, have fun, and eat & drink.” Cats will be on hand not just for cuddling but also for adopting “via rescues such as the Humane Society of Austin,” according to the site. Some readers might recognize the cafe’s address. It neighbors the site of the former Jumpolin, the piñata shop whose widely publicized demolition last February, ahead of South by Southwest, set off a firestorm of controversy about gentrification on the East Side.