NOVELTY - A process for the recycling of salt and alkaline batteries of all sizes and types comprises a three stage scheme of sorting, mechanical treatment and hydrometallurgical treatment.    USE - The process is used for the recycling of alkaline and salt batteries, also including lithium batteries, nickel/cadmium and nickel-hydrides accumulators and button batteries.    ADVANTAGE - The process does not involve any thermal treatments or electrolytic treatments, thus reducing costs .Manganese and zinc, originating from salt and alkaline batteries are totally dissolved.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A process for the recycling of batteries of all sizes comprises a three stage succession :    (a) a primary phase for the sorting of collected batteries ;    (b) a second phase of mechanical treatment of the batteries by milling, magnetic separation of the milled product, granular fractionation of the non-ferrous milled material and qualitative separation of the large particles ; 7 fractions are separated designated : ferrous, fines, medium, rebus, non-ferrous, plastics and paper ;    (c) a third phase of physical or physico-chemical treatment of the fractions, the ferrous and non-ferrous being valorized and the plastics fraction being washed in H2SO4 and HNO3 and drained.    The process is characterized in that, in the third phase the middle fraction is re-milled and integrated with the fine fraction to form a Black Mass group ; this is submitted to a hydrometallurgical treatment comprising the stages :    (i) caustic soda wash;    (ii) filtration and rinsing to extract chlorides, ammonium, potassium and other soluble salts ;    (iii) acid attack by H2SO4 solution in the presence of Fe to dissolve Zn and Mn ;    (iv) reduction of the group by H2O2 in the presence of an antifoam agent to dissolve residual Mn ;    (v) adjustment of pH by ammonia, ZnO or MnO2 ;    (vi) flocculation of the group, allowing separation of a solution rich in sulfates of Zn and Mn;    (vii) purification of the solution by adjustment of pH with H2SO4;    (viii) cementation of Cu, Cd, Hg, and Pb with Zn powder and elimination by filtration ;    (ix) complexation of Ni with sodium or potassium ethylxanthate after pH adjustment and filtration ; and    (x) valorization of sulfates of Zn and Mn in solution or after precipitation.