Abstract The combination of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) possessing porosity and catalytic activity with plasmonic nanoparticles (PNPs) defines a new paradigm in photocatalytic degradation of ecotoxicants. Herein, we designed a novel composite derived from a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste, MOF – UiO-66, and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to degrade paraoxon as a nerve agent simulant under plasmon excitation. The prepared material was characterized by spectroscopic: XRD, UV–Vis, FT-IR, XPS, microscopic: SEM (EDX), TEM and ICP-MS, TGA, BET analysis, and NH3 TPD techniques. We found the balance between pore availability of UiO-66 for paraoxon adsorption, plasmonic enhancement, and the cost of the final composite. In the case of PET@UiO-66-Ag25, paraoxon is degraded for 1 h with ∼ 95 % efficiency under 455 nm. The synergetic degradation mechanism of UiO-66 and AgNPs was proved by experiments with different wavelengths of illumination, PET@Ag, and control reaction of Fisher esterification. The synergetic effect is explained by weakening the chemical bonds in the transition state between the Zr site (Lewis’s acid centers) and paraoxon via plasmon excitation and energy transfer. Moreover, PET@UiO-66-Ag25 is overperforming other materials in terms of environmental impact, easiness of preparation, visible light usage, high apparent quantum yield, and recycling performance.