Abstract: A process for the disassembling of scrapped, i.e. worn out, damaged or in some other way unserviceable electrical storage batteries (10), in particular alkaline batteries, which consist of a prismatic cell container with sets of positive and negative plates, each secured to the next by means of a connecting strap, from which terminal posts project through a cover on the upper part of the cell container. After any free electrolyte has been emptied from the cell container, the materials making up the battery can be recovered.This is done by removing the upper part of the cell container so as to produce an opening and by withdrawing the sets of plates (31) from the cell container through the opening by means of a mechanical device (20) at the same time as the container is gripped and held fast in a pre-determined position by means of clamping devices (33, 34).