Exhibit 99


[LOGO] ARCA
       INCORPORATED

                    Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.
                    7400 Excelsior Boulevard, Minneapolis MN 55426 (952)930-9000


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                     Edward R. (Jack) Cameron (952) 930-9000
                                     Richard G. Cinquina, Equity Market Partners
                                     (612) 338-0810


 ARCA RECEIVES 3-YEAR APPLIANCE RECYCLING CONTRACTS FROM LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT
         OF WATER AND POWER VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION ANNUALLY

DECEMBER 10, 2002--MINNEAPOLIS, MN--Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.
(OTC BB: ARCI) today reported it has been awarded two, three-year appliance
recycling contracts by the Department of Water and Power of the City of Los
Angeles (DWP) valued at a combined total of approximately $1.2 million per year.
Both recycling programs are expected to be operational in the first quarter of
2003.

Under the Low Income Refrigerator Exchange Program, the DWP will provide new,
super-efficient refrigerators at no cost to qualifying low-income customers in
exchange for their older, working refrigerators that will be recycled by ARCA in
an environmentally responsible manner. Through the DWP's Refrigerator Turn-In
and Recycling Program, qualifying customers will turn-in their older,
inefficient but working refrigerators and freezers that ARCA will also recycle.

Edward R. (Jack) Cameron, president and chief executive officer, commented: "We
are gratified to have this opportunity to assist the Los Angeles DWP and
capitalize upon ARCA's extensive experience in high-volume, environmentally-safe
appliance recycling. Through these programs, the DWP will reduce residential
electricity demand, lower the energy bills of its customers, provide a boost for
energy-efficient appliances and provide public environmental benefits."


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ABOUT ARCA

ARCA is one of the nation's largest recyclers of major household appliances for
the energy conservation programs of electric utilities. Through its
ApplianceSmart (www.ApplianceSmart.com) operation, ARCA also is one of the
nation's leading retailers of special-buy household appliances. These
special-buy appliances, which include close-outs, factory overruns and
scratch-and-dent units, typically are not integrated into the manufacturer's
normal distribution channel. ApplianceSmart sells these virtually new appliances
at a discount to full retail, offers a 100% money-back guarantee and provides
warranties on parts and labor. As of December 2002, ApplianceSmart was operating
10 factory outlets: four in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market; three in the
Columbus, Ohio, market; two in the Dayton, Ohio, market; and one in Los Angeles.


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This press release, including the information related to expectations about its
new recycling contracts, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from ARCA's assumptions and
expectations, including the level of advertising support provided by the
L.A.D.W.P. and the effectiveness of customer incentives and promotions, and the
ability of the Company to discharge its contractual responsibilities in a timely
and successful manner. All forward-looking statements are qualified by, and
should be considered in conjunction with, such cautionary statements.
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Visit our web site at www.arcainc.com
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