anode and mild steel has been satisfactorily used as the cathode in a typical practice of the invention alkaline waste water containing chlorinated organics is charged to the anode compartment of the electrolytic cell water or aqueous sodium hydroxide solution being charged to the cathode compartment although water alone may be used as the catholyte in start up of the process in order to enhance electrolysis of the water to provide a more electrically conductive medium as well as to avoid excessively high voltages on cell start up it is preferred to charge the cathode compartment initially with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution the concentration of which may vary over a considerable range for example from about 0 001 percent to 50 percent or more by weight the electrolytic cell may be operated over a wide range of current densities for example from about 50 to 300 amperes per square foot of apparent electrode surface preferably from about 100 to 200 amperes per square foot likewise the cell voltage may vary over a wide range for example from about 2 to 10 volts typically from about 5 to 7 volts the minimum operating voltage must be at least in excess of that required to obtain electrolysis of water i e.