The successful use of hay extract medium for growth of Verticillium marquandii in the presence of toxic black slag, resulted in selective and efficient Zn2+ recovery. An alkaline black waste slag originating from short rotary furnace, contained Zn2+ and Pb2+ (20% and 3.5%, respectively) in a form of compounds only slightly soluble in water. After 90 h of the culturing in bioreactor on hay extract medium with starch (50 g l(-1)) and black waste (5 g l(-1)) supplements, 80% of zinc and 0.5% of lead were bound by the mycelium. The pH value of the culture medium played a crucial role for limitation of the waste inhibitory effect on mycelium growth and for heavy metal recovery by the fungus.