An apparatus and method for separating contaminated plastic material from various types of contaminants, including paper, includes a grinder for reducing the size of the contaminated plastic material to a reduced size of pieces and an eductor for receiving the pieces of contaminated plastic material from the grinder. The eductor has a nozzle portion at one end for producing a turbulent flow of compressed air and an intermediate portion with a mixing chamber for receiving the turbulent flow of air and the reduced size of pieces whereby the pieces are pulled into the eductor by the compressed air flow and the contaminants are separated from the plastic.