<p>Environmental concerns have heightened interest in the development of new materials for effective photocatalytic (PC) degradation and adsorption capacity of variety of organic pollutants. This review describes the synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic and adsorptive potential of agricultural waste (AGWs)-based activated carbon (AC) for the removal of dyes, pharmaceutical drugs, and heavy metals. The review highlights surface modification techniques, physical and chemical activation methods, and the influence of functionalization and doping on agricultural waste-based activated carbon. The review provides insight into the potential of agricultural waste-based activated carbon as a cost-effective and sustainable material for removing toxins from water sources, highlighting its adsorptive and photocatalytic properties. However, the heterostructure materials synthesized from date seed, potato peel, and eggshell-based AC demonstrate promising results, making this technique a viable solution for environmental remediation. Additionally, the physical and chemical activation methods are discussed along with the influence of functionalization and doping of AGWs based AC on dyes, drugs, and heavy metals. Therefore, it is safe to say that this review will give insight into the cheapest raw material yet sustainable technique for the removal of toxins from water sources.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>