According to one embodiment, a printing media recycling apparatus includes a printing-medium feeding section, a scanner section configured to read an image of printing medium and generate image data, the decoloring section configured to decolor an image formed of a decolorable recording material on the printing medium, a decoloring-processing-execution determining section configured to determine whether the execution of decoloring processing is appropriate for the printing medium or the execution of the decoloring processing is unnecessary based on the image data generated in the scanner section, a decoloring determining section configured to determine a decolored state of the printing medium after the execution of the decoloring processing by the decoloring section, and a diverting-section-switching control section configured to switch a diverting section to lead the printing medium to a predetermined discharge tray.