A laboratory-scale study on the anaerobic treatment of selected pulp mill streams was carried out in a collaboration between the Research Institute for Environmental Protection and Designing Office of Water and Waste Disposal. Anaerobic treatment of effluents from acid hydrolysis of wood from sulfate cellulose production, and effluents from the sulfite cellulose fibers washing was investigated. The results indicated 80% COD removal and the average methane generation was found to be 340 Ncm3/gCOD removed in case of highly polluted (COD = 63 kg02/m3) acid hydrolysis effluents. The waste from cellulose washing contained, beside sugars, also refractory compounds, such as high-molecular-masslignin derivatives, resins and tannins. According to that, only 20-30% COD removal was obtained and the methane generation was 270-360 Ncm3/g COD removed.