The ability of rice husk to remove chromium, zinc, copper and cadmium from waste water has been investigated. Several parameters that can affect metals uptake such as particle size, pH and temperature were described. At the optimal conditions, the chromium, zinc, copper and cadmium ions removal from aqueous solution are 79, 85, 80 and 85%, respectively. After the adsorption of metal ions, the analyte retained in the husk could be recovered almost completely by eluting with dilute hydrochloric acid solution. The method was applied to removal chromium, zinc, copper and cadmium present in the laboratory waste water.