recycling (rag to bone)

I've been trying to get rid of an old lawn mower, one that died last year for lack of attention. Even once, tried to rebuild the carburetor but messed it up even more. Could never get it to run smoothly - or run at all.

I asked several lawn maintenance people, who would take it, and they all told me - leave it by the street on garbage night. So last night I pushed it out and left it next to the recycling bins.  This morning as I went out for the paper, it was gone, and left in it's place - an odd looking globe-shaped table.

Apparently this is very common. People nightly, roaming the neighborhoods - scouring the pick-up routes. When their truck bed is over-filled, they replace their items of lessor value at the same location.

Reminding me of my early years in England, when the "rag & bone man" would make his rounds on a late Friday afternoon.