-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GcY95t4niObAXAFfdXnqeg7YIAVa3GWVF4u2Ij+Ib2Jjl/w3hnMGg6taYbxqjl6a
 0R1PA3h6R1gEvxT+55Mrtw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902227-09-000002.txt : 20091231
<SEC-HEADER>0000902227-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20091231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091231133906
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902227-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091231
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091231

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:		091268185

	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:		6129309000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7400 EXCELSIOR BLVD
		CITY:			NINNEAPOLIS
		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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-11</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>2.22</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-11-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edward Cameron</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----