The abundance of metal ions in galvanic waste solutions enables these solutions to be used for recovery of metals as well as complexing agents such as citrate and tartrate. The addition of oxalic acid to solutions containing complexing agents precipitates pure metal oxalate or mixtures of metal oxalate and tartrate or citrate, the product depending on pH and concentration of components. The addition of oxalic acid to the rinsing bath after electroplating precipitates the most of the metals such as Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II).