June 5, 1997



                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.
7400 Excelsior Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN  55426

Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have examined (a) the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by you with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the
issuance by you of up to 100,000 shares of your common stock, no par value (the
"Shares"), pursuant to the 1997 Stock Option Plan ("1997 Plan"), in the manner
set forth in the Registration Statement; (b) your Articles of Incorporation and
your Bylaws, both as amended to date; and (c) your corporate proceedings
relative to your organization and to the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the
1997 Plan and the Registration Statement.

         In addition to the examination outlined above, we have reviewed such
other proceedings, documents, and records and have ascertained or verified such
additional facts as we deem necessary or appropriate for purposes of this
opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                  1. Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. has been
         legally incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of the
         State of Minnesota.

                  2. The Shares will, when issued by you and paid for by the
         optionee, as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the related
         Prospectus, be legally issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.



Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.
June 5, 1997
Page 8



         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit hereby that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          MACKALL, CROUNSE & MOORE, PLC