<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902227-13-000002.txt : 20130513
<SEC-HEADER>0000902227-13-000002.hdr.sgml : 20130513
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130513155246
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902227-13-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130509
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130513
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130513

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAMERON EDWARD R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902227

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19621
		FILM NUMBER:		13837244

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55426-4517

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:		9529309000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			554264517
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-05-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902227</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAMERON EDWARD R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55426-4517</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President, CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option Grant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.89</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-05-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest with respect to 50,000 shares; 50% on 1st anniversary, 100% on 2nd anniversary, with respect to 25,000 shares on the date the Company hires a Chief Operating Officer and with respect to 25,000 shares on the date the Companys 2013 action plan has been achieved (and the option will terminate with respect to such shares if the 2013 action plan is not achieved).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward Cameron</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-05-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
