<p>Electroplating sludge (ES) is a solid waste generated during electroplating wastewater treatment. It contains toxic heavy metals and is characterized by a fine particle size, high water content, and unstable physical and chemical properties, thereby posing great environmental and human health risks. However, ES contains many valuable metals, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, and tin, and occasionally precious metals, such as gold and silver. These metals have high recycling value, and metallurgical ES residues can be used to produce building materials. This review systematically examines the sources of ES, identifies the critical challenges in its treatment, and proposes targeted mitigation strategies. It presents a systematic and novel classification, redefines the two main categories of ES treatment technologies, updates emerging treatment methods with sustainable and industrial potential, and supplements these with more detailed explanations of the mechanisms underlying various technologies. The study concludes that effective electroplating sludge management requires integrated strategies combining source control and categorization, synergistic and innovative treatment of multiple types of technologies, secondary utilization of metallurgical slag, and flexible technology selection adapted to environmental economic contexts.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>