A separating method for, on the basis of a mixture containing at least a first family of components and a second family of components separating the components belonging to the first family from the components belonging to the second family, said method for this purpose comprising a supplying step (S1), during which the mixture is introduced into a receptacle provided with a screen, an electrical thrashing step (S2), during which the components of the mixture that is present in the receptacle are agitated by means of an agitating electrical field so as to subject said components to mechanical impacts to break them up, and a screening step (S3), during which the mixture subjected to the electrical thrashing step (S2) is made to pass over the screen in order to retain a first product, which originates from the mixture, in the receptacle, which first product having a higher proportion of components of the first family than the mixture does, while a second product, which originates from the mixture, is discharged through the screen, which second product has a higher proportion of components of the second family than the mixture does.