In a process for removing dyes from a waste textile material, including at least 50% by weight of polyester fibers, a batch of said textile material in an extraction chamber is extracted with a solvent that is circulated through the textile and the extraction chamber; said solution comprising solvent and extracted material is used as a solvent to extract dye from another batch of textile material, and in that said steps of extraction are repeated, until the amount of extracted material in said solution comprising solvent and extracted material reach a concentration whereby further dye extraction is impaired.