Abstract: Aluminum particles are reacted with heavy metal ions in a first acidic aqueous solution to form heavy metallic particles that are suitable for recycling and reuse when recovered from the first aqueous solution. The first residual aqueous solution may also contains ferrous ions obtained by acid redissolving a co-precipitated heavy metal hydroxide and ferrous hydroxide sludge that is produced in the treatment of a dilute chelated heavy metal solution. The first residual aqueous solution with heavy metals substantially removed is recycled and reused as the ferrous reagent for treating said dilute chelated heavy metal bearing solution. The process disclosed herein is useful for treating both dilute and concentrated wastes and wastewaters generated by industries such as metal plating and metal etching and printed circuit board fabrication.