The reuse of paper solid waste (PSW) as a low-cost sorbent for Cd removal from aqueous phase was investigated. Batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of pH (3.5, 5.5, 7.5), contact time (10-360min), PSW dose (2.5-20gL(-1)), and Cd concentration (5-50mgL(-1)) at an ionic strength of 0.01M NaNO3 on adsorption efficiency and capacity. Cd removal of approximate to 96% occurred in 20mgL(-1) Cd solution at pH 5.5 containing 20gL(-1) PSW. Equilibrium was attained after 120min and the equilibrium adsorption capacity of PSW increased with increasing Cd concentration from 5 to 50mgL(-1). The kinetic process of Cd adsorption obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Langmuir and Freundlich models described equally well the experimental data and the maximum adsorption capacity was 4.89mgg(-1). PSW can be used for reducing Cd concentration in Cd-contaminated water systems.