Method for recycling printed plastic articles without contaminating or staining the recycled plastic with color due the printed ink. The ink is a water-based composition comprising select self-crosslinking acrylate copolymers or polyurethane resins, which inks exhibit good adhesion under conditions of use, but which are readily removed as solid particles when exposed to a hot caustic solution. Due to the inks being removed as solid particles, and not dissolving into the ink, the recycled plastic remains uncontaminated by the ink during recycling.