A method for recycling thin-film solar cell modules which are which are composed of a substrate layer with a superimposed structure of functional layers, a plastic layer that encapsulates the functional layers, and a cover layer. The substrate layer is transparent to a working laser beam, and the first functional layer, an electrode layer, is able to absorb this working laser beam. The free surface of the substrate layer is scanned with the working laser beam so that the first electrode layer, due to having absorbed the working laser beam, is at least partially vaporized and the superimposed structure of the functional layers is thus detached from the substrate layer. The substrate layer, separately from the functional layers that are attached to the plastic layer and the cover layer, is subsequently available for separate further processing.