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1. Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation (Policies) | 6 Months Ended
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Jul. 01, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Nature of business and basis of presentation | 1. Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and subsidiaries (“we,” the “Company” or “ARCA”) are in the business of providing turnkey appliance recycling and replacement services for electric utilities and other sponsors of energy efficiency programs. We also sell new major household appliances through a chain of Company-owned stores under the name ApplianceSmart®. In addition, we have a 50% interest in a joint venture operating under the name ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC (“AAP”), which recycles appliances from twelve states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 which has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and the unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America for interim financial information and Article 8 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, normal and recurring adjustments and accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation for the periods indicated have been included. Operating results for the three-month and six-month periods ended July 1, 2017 and July 2, 2016, are presented using 13-week and 26-week periods, respectively. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year. In preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2016, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2017.
Principles of consolidation | Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. and our subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. ApplianceSmart, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed through a corporate reorganization in July 2011 to hold our business of selling new major household appliances through a chain of Company-owned retail stores. ARCA Canada Inc., a Canadian corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed in September 2006 to provide turnkey recycling services for electric utility energy efficiency programs. ARCA Recycling, Inc., a California corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed in November 1991 to provide turnkey recycling services for electric utility energy efficiency programs. The operating results of our wholly owned subsidiaries are consolidated in our financial statements. AAP is a joint venture that was formed in October 2009 between ARCA and 4301 Operations, LLC (“4301”). ARCA and 4301 owned a 50% interest in AAP through August 15, 2017. AAP established a regional processing center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at which recyclable appliances are processed. The financial position and results of operations of AAP are consolidated in our financial statements based on our conclusion that AAP is a variable interest entity due to our contribution in excess of 50% of the total equity, subordinated debt and other forms of financial support. We had a controlling financial interest in AAP and we have provided substantial financial support to fund the operations of AAP since its inception. On August 15, 2017, subsequent to these condensed consolidated financial statements, ARCA sold it’s 50% interest in AAP. See Note 14 to these condensed consolidated financial statements. On August 18, 2018, subsequent to these condensed consolidated financial statements, we acquired GeoTraq, Inc. (“GeoTraq”). GeoTraq is a development stage company that is engaged in the development, manufacture, and, ultimately, sale of cellular transceiver modules, also known as Cell-ID modules. GeoTraq has created the world’s first, and only, dedicated Cell-ID transceiver module that can enable the design of extremely small, inexpensive products that can operate for years on a single charge, powered by standardly available batteries of diminutive size without the need of recharge. Accordingly, and utilizing Cell-ID technology exclusively, we believe that GeoTraq will provide an exclusive, low-cost solution and service life that will enable new global markets for location-based services (LBS) that could utilize technology similar to the technology that emergency 911 location systems currently utilize. The GeoTraq platform is a Java-based, scalable, multi-tenant software, designed to manage an unlimited number of Cell-ID devices. Cell-ID transceivers work indoors, unlike GPS, which are only accurate outdoors. Cell-ID transceivers do not require close proximity for asset tracking, unlike both RFID and Wi-Fi. GPS devices are more expensive and utilize significantly more energy than the GeoTraq device. RFID technology will operate indoors, but only over short distances and requires installation of additional hardware. As a result of this transaction, GeoTraq became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours. In connection with this transaction, we tendered to the owners of GeoTraq $200,000, issued to them an aggregate of 288,588 shares of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, and entered into one-year unsecured promissory notes for an aggregate of $800,000. We are in discussions with our bank in respect of harmonizing this transaction with our rights and obligations under our banking agreement. As the information set forth herein is merely a descriptive summary of the transaction, it cannot contain every detail of the transaction. The agreement between GeoTraq and us is filed with this Report as Exhibit 10.XX. See Note 14 to these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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