Microplastics　in　wastewater　have　been　investigated　globally,　but　less　research　on　the　migration　and　transformation　of　microplastics　throughout　wastewater　and　sludge　treatment.　This　study　investigated　the　fate　of　microplastics　in　a　reclaimed　wastewater　treatment　plant　and　a　centralized　sludge　treatment　center　with　thermal　hydrolysis　and　anaerobic　digestion.　The　results　exhibited　that　the　effluent　microplastics　of　this　reclaimed　wastewater　treatment　plant　were　0.75　±　0.26　items/L.　Approximately　98　%　of　microplastics　were　adsorbed　and　precipitated　into　sludge.　After　thermal　hydrolysis,　anaerobic　digestion　and　plate　and　frame　dewatering,　the　removal　rate　of　microplastics　was　41　%.　Thermal　hydrolysis　was　the　most　effective　method　for　removing　microplastics.　Polypropylene,　polyamide　and　polyethylene　were　widely　detected　in　wastewater　and　sludge.　30　million　microplastics　were　released　into　the　downstream　river　and　51.80　billion　microplastics　entered　soil　through　sludge　cake　daily.　Therefore,　substantial　microplastics　still　entered　the　natural　environment　despite　the　high　microplastics　removal　rate　of　reclaimed　wastewater　and　sludge　treatment.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd