Abstract: A method of recovering a resin material from an infusible phenolic plastic composition. The infusible phenolic plastic composition is ground to a powder and mixed with an alkali solution to produce a liquid mixture. The liquid mixture is heated to a temperature selected between 260.degree.-340.degree. C and maintained at this temperature between 160 and 3 minutes causing the resin in the infusible phenolic plastic composition to dissolve in the alkali solution and produce a liquor. Thereafter the liquor is passed through a filter to remove any insoluble plastic composition therefrom. An acid solution when added to the filtered liquor causes a solid to precipitate from the liquor. The solid is separated from the liquor and washed in a water bath to remove any water soluble salts, phenols, and cresols from the recovered resin material.