AbstractThe storage of large amount of power production waste occupies huge land resource; moreover, the stored or discarded waste may pollute the water environment through changing the water pH, releasing the trace and toxic elements even radioactive elements, and so on by leachate. Therefore, the recycling and disposal of power production waste are important and necessary. This paper reviews the research literatures published in 2019 on power generation waste from coal‐fired and nuclear power plants, mainly including the recycling of fly ash and flue gas desulfurization gypsum in construction industry and environmental application, the recovery and immobilization of different metals from coal combustion products and selective catalytic reduction catalysts, and the treatment and disposal of radioactive elements from nuclear power plants. Practioner points Coal‐fired power plant waste can be applied for material preparation and wastewater purification. Valued and toxic metals are normally recovered or removed from spent selective catalytic reduction catalyst. Recovery and removal of radioactive elements is essential for nuclear power plant wastes disposal.