The Pd recovery from waste catalysts (W-catalysts) is a globally significant subject due to the high value of Pd across various industries. However, severe environmental contamination and excessive energy usage are well-known issues in Pd recovery attributed to the use of hazardous leaching agents and poor recovery conditions. Here, we present a new recovery method based on triiodide ionic liquids (ILs) with greatly reduced environmental impact and reagent costs, along with mild reaction conditions. This method enables the selective leaching of waste Pd0 from diverse W-catalysts to produce Pd2+. In a mild (50 °C) and low viscosity (59.8 cP) operating environment, the leaching efficiency of this process is approximately 98.4 %. Moreover, redox mechanism and shrinkage kinematic models are thorough investigation. Notably, economic analysis demonstrates that recycling 1.0 kg of W-catalysts could generate a significant profit of 3036.1 USD. By advancing Pd recovery closer to levels of practical application, this study will foster a more sustainable prospect for W-catalysts.