This study investigated the decolorization of the effluent from a dyeing and laundry industry by autochthonous microorganisms biostimulated by glucose and ammonium sulfate. The microbial consortium was effective in reducing the color by biodegradation of industrial dyes by enzymatic action. In the aerobic biological treatment, the largest removal of color was obtained with a 2(2) factorial design in the presence of 1.25% v v(-1) microbial consortium at 50 rpm agitation. In this condition, the color average of the treated effluent reached 138 mgPt l(-1) and the decolorization of the treated effluent was approximately 90%. The turbidity of the effluent was reduced by a physicochemical treatment, using tannin and a flocculation polymer under different pH with a 2(3) factorial design. The largest reduction of turbidity and further removal of color were obtained in the presence of 0.3 mg l(-1) tannin and 15 ppm flocculation polymer at pH 7.5. Under these conditions a turbidity reduction of 79% and a decolorization of 96% were reached for the effluent. The wastewater resulting from the biological and physicochemical treatments can be launched directly into the water resource due to the high efficiencies of color removal of the effluent from dyeing and laundry industry. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.