To efficiently recover a metal material of a group IVB element or a group VB element from a separator of a fuel cell.

A method of recovering the metal material of the group IVB element or the group VB element used for the separator of the fuel cell includes the steps of hydrogen-embrittling the separator by supplying hydrogen to each of a hydrogen gas passage, an air passage, and a cooling water passage provided in the fuel cell, removing the hydrogen-embrittled separator from the fuel cell, and recovering the metal material by desorbing hydrogen from the separator removed from the fuel cell.