The resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics is a global challenge that requires urgent attention while low-cost treatment of printing press wastewater is still an ongoing research. In this study, the antimicrobial potential and printing press wastewater treatment efficacy of biosynthesized T. polyzona silver nanoparticles (TPAgNPs) and laccase-mediated silver nanoparticles (LAgNPs) using T. polyzona extract and laccase were carefully examined. Visual inspection, UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the TPAgNPs and LAgNPs. The development of a brown color indicates the synthesis of nanoparticles, and the presence of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 400 nm indicated the formation of TPAgNPs and LAgNPs. The functional groups such as amines, carboxyl, hydroxyl and carbonyl were responsible for capping and stabilization of the nanoparticles. The TPAgNPs and LAgNPs were spherical, with an average particle size of 9.3 nm and 8.7 nm, respectively. DLS shows intensity with average diameter of 1329 nm and a poly-dispersity index of 0.507. EDX spectral confirmed the presence of pure silver nanoparticles and XRD confirms face-cubic structured nanoparticles. Overall, TPAgNPs and LAgNPs had the highest antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis with a zone of 23 mm and 25 mm, respectively. Laccase, TPAgNPs and LAgNPs also showed effective reduction in physicochemical parameters such as turbidity, COD, BOD, TSS, TDS, DO, salinity as well as the heavy metals composition of the Printing Press wastewater, with the total eradication of cadmium.Graphical Abstract: