in a process for removing the paint from plastic components provided with coats of paint , the plastic components are first crushed to a bulk material size of the crushed plastic pieces . the plastic pieces are subsequently mixed with a paint removing agent reducing the adhesion of the coats of paint to the plastic pieces , and circulated by means of a conveyor screw . the paint removing agent is formed in this connection by an emulsion consisting of at least one benzyl - substituted alkanol and an alkyl - glycol acetate or n - alkyl - pyrrolidone with an aqueous lye , which can not be completely mixed . the mixing ratio for mixing the individual components is selected so that it is in the range of a mixing gap . after the paint removing agent has acted upon the painted plastic pieces , a solid substance is added to the paint remover so that the further steps of the method can be carried out in a dry state . the plastic pieces are subsequently loaded in a hammer mill in which the coats of paint of the plastic pieces swelled by the paint removing agent are knocked off .