Abstract: A solvent-based plastic recycling method that removes color and produces plastic polymers substantially free of exogenous colorants. The method comprises selecting a solvent that selectively dissolves an individual polymer and has low solubility of colorants and decomposition products of the colorants. A combined precipitator and piston device is used to precipitate the polymer solution and mechanically remove the solvent from the precipitate before thermal drying. An adsorption bed is used to clean the recovered solvent as it is recycled to the process.