ARCA Advanced Processing Awarded Internationally Recognized Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS) Certification

MINNEAPOLIS, March 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARCI) ("ARCA") announced today that its Philadelphia-based ARCA Advanced Processing ("AAP") operation has been awarded the highly respected and internationally recognized Recycling Industry Operating Standard® ("RIOS") certification. 

RIOS is a third-party accredited certification program that integrates quality, environmental, health and safety requirements from ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 into one comprehensive management system. RIOS certification is a rigorous undertaking, and it is recognized as an international mark of excellence for recycling companies. Mark Eisenschenk, President and CEO of ARCA, Inc., said, "Our AAP operation in Philadelphia, where we recycle 500,000 to 600,000 appliances annually using the latest state-of-the-art recycling processes and techniques, has clearly demonstrated a powerful commitment to recycling processes that achieve measurable and continual improvement in quality, environmental, health and safety performance."

Brian Conners, AAP President, added, "AAP is the first EPA Responsible Appliance Disposal recycling facility to attain the coveted RIOS certification.1 This is the triumphant accomplishment following a fourteen-month intensive journey for our management team. Attaining this high level of certification was both challenging and extremely rewarding.  Our constituents now have further assurance that we have systems in place to maintain a high level of excellence in the areas of quality, environment, health and safety." 

Commenting on this announcement, Mark Shirkness, General Manager, Distribution and Services at GE Appliances, said, "ARCA and AAP have demonstrated advanced refrigerator processing using the first UNTHA Recycling Technology system in the United States, and the RIOS certification is a recognition of the significant commitment they have made to executing  a solid quality, environmental, health and safety system. We congratulate AAP on the achievement!"

About ARCAARCA's three business components are uniquely positioned in the industry to work together to provide a full array of appliance-related services. ARCA Advanced Processing, LLC employs advanced technology to refine traditional appliance recycling techniques to achieve optimal revenue-generating and environmental benefits. ARCA is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), one of the world's leading manufacturers of technologically advanced refrigerator recycling systems and recycling facilities for electrical household appliances and electronic scrap. ARCA's regional centers process appliances at end of life to remove environmentally damaging substances and produce material byproducts for recycling for utilities in the U.S. and Canada. Eighteen company-owned stores under the name ApplianceSmart, Inc.® sell new appliances directly to consumers and provide affordable ENERGY STAR® options for energy efficiency appliance replacement programs.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding ARCA's future success. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the risks associated with general economic conditions, competition in the retail and recycling industries and regulatory risks. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in ARCA's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other risks may be detailed from time to time in reports to be filed with the SEC.

1 List of RIOS-certified recycling facilities as of March 5, 2015 at http://www.certifymerecycling.org/find-certified-facility/list-certified-facilities.

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SOURCE Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.