Tubular labels and contaminants can be removed from containers and/or bottles of plastic material to be recycled, by subjecting the containers and/or bottles to a first weak mechanical washing and slow centrifugating action, followed by a separation step for separating the removed labels and contaminants from the containers. The containers are subsequently subjected to a second strong mechanical washing and fast centrifugating action for the removal from the containers and/or bottles of any residual labels and contaminants.