A method of treating photographic effluent by precipitating or otherwise removing harmful pollutants to provide an environmentally acceptable liquid phase and a disposable solid phase. The pollutants are removed from the effluent by the addition of chemical reagents which sequentially cause different pollutants or their derivatives to precipitate. A time delay may be necessary between certain additions to allow completion of that reaction and prevent interference from other reactions. The method is preferably carried out in a single vessel.