a process for depolymerizing polymers by selective , partial oxidation at supercritical or near supercritical conditions for water and wherein supercritical water or water near supercritical conditions is used as a solvent and reforming agent , is used to produce relatively high yields of the monomers originally used to produce the polymers . the invention provides an environmentally friendly process for recycling polymeric waste materials to generate valuable polymer feedstock in a closed oxidation process which is free of hazardous stack emissions . the polymers which can be recycled in accordance with the process can include typical amounts of conventional additive and other impurities without significantly affecting the overall conversion .