<p>Pharmaceuticals are essential for fostering human and animal health. Following usage, the active ingredients and their metabolites are eliminated and make their way into the environment through several channels. Most of the remaining residues from medications are expelled through urine, sweat, saliva, stool, tears, and other bodily fluids, and ultimately end up in wastewater. Over the years, pharmaceuticals and their by-products have been discovered in drinking water, sediment, sewage, manure, and groundwater. However, long-term impacts cannot be ruled out and require further investigation. Aspirin is a pharmaceutical that is heavily consumed and widely occurring in the environment. This study reviews the most recent research on the use of different agro-waste-based adsorbents as sustainable alternatives in the adsorption of aspirin metabolites. Highlights of the main processes involved in the adsorption of aspirin and other pharmaceuticals are provided, along with information on operational factors that are crucial to the adsorption process. The review also examines the risks associated with using various techniques in pharmaceutical recovery, as well as different methods for regenerating spent adsorbents, aiming to contribute to the economic viability and cost-effectiveness of agro-waste-based adsorbents for real-time applications, as well as their global acceptance.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>