Abstract: To improve the energy balance of the method, air heated to a temperature at which the mixture can be dried is brought in contact with the mixture in form of an air-stream, which also conveys the mixture through the plant during the process. This moist air giving off most of its heat during drying is vented, and the dried mixture is subsequently conveyed for exposure to a stream of hot air to effect separation of plastic and paper from each other, the resulting particles then being separated in an air classifier, or cyclone, and the heated dry air being recirculated to the entry point of the plant for reuse in the process to dry additional moist material being introduced therein.