Abstract A pool of hydrolases with 21.4 U g −1 lipase activity was produced through solid-state fermentation of the fungus Penicillium restrictum in waste from the Orbignya oleifera (babassu) oil processing industry. Enzymatic hydrolysis and anaerobic biodegradability tests were conducted on poultry slaughterhouse effluents with varying oil and grease contents (150–1200 mg l −1 ) and solid enzymatic pool concentrations (0.1–1.0% w/v). Enhanced anaerobic treatment efficiency relative to raw effluent was achieved when a 0.1% concentration of enzymatic pool was used in the pre-hydrolysis stage with 1200 mg oil and grease l −1 (chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 85% vs. 53% and biogas production of 175 ml vs. 37 ml after 4 d).