Abstract: The invention relates to a process for cleaning a stream of crude gas and/or waste gas charged with hydrocarbon vapors resulting in recovery of the hydrocarbons. The process consists of adsorption, desorption, and condensation and/or absorption, and the adsorption is accomplished in two two-stage adsorber systems connected to each other in parallel. A charged stream of gas is first directed to the first adsorber system for coarse cleaning by a primary adsorber (2) and then for precision cleaning to a secondary adsorber (4) connected in series to the first adsorber. The hydrocarbons adsorbed in the primary adsorber (2) are desorbed by use of a vacuum pump (26) and the hydrocarbon vapors depleted of inert gas that are obtained are recovered in the condensation and/or absorption system (24) after compression in the vacuum pump (26) and the hydrocarbon components that are not condensed or absorbed are returned to the stream of crude gas.