Acticarbon is one kind of industry products widely used in decolorization and purification of products. Herein, an amorphous carbon (denoted as AC), easily obtained from the used acticarbon via a green, low-cost and sustainable approach, was introduced for both lithium ion and sodium ion batteries as anode material. Li/AC cell exhibits a proper cycle performance, maintaining a discharge capacity of 332.3 mAh g(-1) after 250 cycles at the current of 100 mAh g(-1). In Na/AC cell, 132.5 mAh g(-1) after 200 cycles at 100 mA g(-1) was achieved. Meanwhile, both Li/AC cell and Na/AC cell possess good rate performance, even at 2 A g(-1). Such performance of AC is mainly ascribed to its enlarged interlayer space that benefits for the power property in lithium ion battery and insertion of Na ions in sodium ion battery. Generally speaking, AC anode material, with low cost, friendly to environment, promising electrochemical performance, can be obtained from the used/waste commercial acticarbon easily, which is a novel choice for lithium ion and sodium ion batteries. (c) 2019 The Electrochemical Society.