-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 M4D4MVt5qsl5SnTMxPra6rSlHFrq0RMEy1nFc6nHPgYz/a3ZDMC5zNJE3jiVejAD
 D0MCxvn6Xoy1rHHF7dnwHw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001509491-11-000001.txt : 20110106
<SEC-HEADER>0001509491-11-000001.hdr.sgml : 20110106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110106104503
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001509491-11-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Pickerell Dean
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001509491

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19621
		FILM NUMBER:		11513120

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD.
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55426

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA INC /MN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000862861
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-HOME FURNITURE, FURNISHINGS & EQUIPMENT STORES [5700]
		IRS NUMBER:				411454591
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55426-4502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6129309000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD
		CITY:			NINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			554264517
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000862861</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLIANCE RECYCLING CENTERS OF AMERICA INC /MN</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>arci</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001509491</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pickerell Dean</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55426</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-07-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock options granted upon being elected a director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Election as director</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dean Pickerell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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