One-step solid state reaction method was proposed for the first time to realize the transformation of the Zn-containing EAFD from hazardous solid waste to multi-metal doped ferrite with enhanced magnetic property. The effect of Zn-containing EAFD to NiCl2 center dot 6H(2)O mass ratio (R-zE/N, g.g(-1)) on the phases transformation was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The as-synthesized samples were treated by toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). It is shown that the TCPL played a key role in determining both the purity and toxicity of the obtained ferrites. The pure metal doped Ni-Zn ferrite with higher saturation magnetization (Ms, 56.8 emu.g(-1)) and lower coercivity (Hc, 58.5 Oe) was gained under the optimum conditions. And the pure ferrite was a green product according to the TCLP and EN12457 standards. Moreover, the evaluation of environmental impact and the recovery ratio of the dust were also discussed. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.