Abstract: A process for the treatment of absorbent sanitary paper products to separate such products into components thereof in a form suitable for recycling or re-use is disclosed; absorbent sanitary paper products include disposable diapers, incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, bedpads and other related absorbent and adsorbent products. The process comprises the step of treating said products in at least one bath of an aqueous solution to remove particulate and/or soluble matter from the products. The bath is operated under conditions that are conducive to non-destructive separation of said products into components thereof. In preferred embodiments, the treated product thus obtained is treated with at least one aqueous washing solution and with at least one aqueous solution of at least one of bleaching agent and antimicrobial agent, and separate streams of plastic and cellulosic materials are recovered. The process results in the recovery of usable products from absorbent sanitary paper products.