Process for recycling an article based on at least one vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride polymer, according to which: (a) the article is cut up into fragments with a mean size of 1 cm to 50 cm in the case where it would exceed these sizes; (b) the article fragments are brought into contact with an azeotropic or quasiazeotropic mixture of water and of a solvent capable of dissolving the polymer, at a temperature of at least 120.degree. C.; (c) the polymer dissolved in the solvent is precipitated by a reduction in pressure and by injection of steam into the solution thus obtained, which additionally results in the entrainment of the solvent-water azeotrope and thus leaves a mixture remaining which is essentially composed of water and of solid polymer particles; (d) the polymer particles are collected.