The objective of this research was to investigate the feasibility of developing improved activated sludge cultures capable of removing heavy metals. Cystine, peptone, and β-glycerophosphate (BGP) stimulated metal uptake without the significant reduction of culture viability otherwise experienced in the absence of these chemicals. The cystine-peptone-BGP-grown culture exhibited the highest removal of copper and cadmium of 5.67 and 2.53 mM/g protein, respectively.