A method is described for recovering rare earth elements from a solid mixture including a halophosphate and at least one compound of one or more rare earth elements. The method includes: (a) acid etching the mixture; (b) adding a base to bring the pH back up to a value of at least 1.5; (c) etching the solid from step (b) with a solution of soda or potash; (d) acid etching the solid from step (c) until a pH of less than 7 is obtained, resulting in a solid phase and a liquid phase including at least one rare earth salt, and separating the solid phase from the liquid phase.