This study was performed to investigate the possible uses of waste sludge for the removal of heavy metal ions. The adsorption experiments were conducted with wastes such as sewage treatment sludge, water treatment sludge and oyster shell to evaluate their sorption characteristics. Heavy metals selected were cadmium, copper and lead. in the sorption experiments on the sewage treatment sludge, water treatment sludge, oyster shell and soil, sorption occurred in the beginning and it reached equilibrium after 40 minutes on the oyster shell and 4 hour on the sewage treatment sludge and water treatment sludge. Results of Freundlich isotherms indicated that sewage treatment sludge could be properly used as an adsorbent for heavy metals and sorption strength of heavy metals was in the order of Pb > Cu > Cd. In the influence of pH on the adsorbents, sorption rate was more than 80% in pH 4 and most of heavy metals were adsorbed in pH 9. Adsorption rate of Cd decreased with decreasing pH and then adsorption rate of Cu was lower in soil.