To provide a method and an apparatus to automatically carry out the disassembling work for recycling a lens-fitted photographic film unit.

The film unit has a front cover 14 attached to cover the front face and both side faces of a body base 16. When the film unit is to be disassembled, the front cover is removed. To release locking on the side face, release paws 82 to 84 are made to enter the end of the side face 14b of the front cover 14 to reach the back face and then to rotate to expand the side face 14b outward. During the release of locking, the front face 14a of the front cover 14 near the side faces is pressed by a pressing member 110.