To achieve the decolorization and reuse of waste colored polyester textiles, ethylene carbonate is utilized to decolorize two types of colored polyester fabrics. The decolorization effects are evaluated using theK/S value of the fabric before and after decolorization. The effects of the mass ratio of colored polyester fabric to ethylene carbonate (i.e. bath ratio), decolorization temperature and time on the decolorization results are investigated. The kinetic behavior of the decolorization process is also explored, and the tensile strength, crystallinity, and surface morphology of the fabrics before and after decolorization under optimal process conditions are tested and characterized. The results indicate that the optimal decolorization process for the fabric dyed with azo Disperse Blue 366 is bath ratio of 1∶15, decolorizing at 140 ℃ for 5 min, while for the fabric dyed with anthraquinone Disperse Red 60 is bath ratio of 1∶15, decolorizing at 130 ℃ for 10 min. After decolorization, the tensile strength retention rates of two fabrics are above 94%, with no significant changes in fiber morphology and a slight decrease in crystallinity. The ethylene carbonate extraction decolorization process of colored polyester fabrics conforms to first-order kinetics.