This study introduces a star-shaped, hydrazide-functionalized polymer (S-PaCH) as an efficient standalone adsorbent for the recovery and recycling of precious metals (PMs) such as gold, palladium, and platinum. Unlike amine-functionalized polymers, which are ineffective at recovering PMs due to their poor adsorption performance, S-PaCH exhibits high adsorption capacity, selectivity, and kinetics. The compact chain structure of S-PaCH, containing numerous hydrazide groups, enhances PM reduction and forms large, collectable precipitates. Compared to commercial amine polymers and reducing agents, S-PaCH shows significantly higher adsorption capacity and selectivity for PMs in model, simulated, and real-world feed solutions. The superior performance of S-PaCH is attributed to its strong reduction capability and chemisorption mechanism. Additionally, PM-adsorbed S-PaCH can be refined into high-purity PMs via calcination, used directly as catalysts for dye reduction, or regenerated for reuse, demonstrating its practical feasibility. The study highlights the potential of S-PaCH in various industrial applications, including environmental protection and sustainable development.This study introduces a star-shaped, hydrazide-functionalized polymer (S-PaCH) as an efficient standalone adsorbent for the recovery and recycling of precious metals (PMs) such as gold, palladium, and platinum. Unlike amine-functionalized polymers, which are ineffective at recovering PMs due to their poor adsorption performance, S-PaCH exhibits high adsorption capacity, selectivity, and kinetics. The compact chain structure of S-PaCH, containing numerous hydrazide groups, enhances PM reduction and forms large, collectable precipitates. Compared to commercial amine polymers and reducing agents, S-PaCH shows significantly higher adsorption capacity and selectivity for PMs in model, simulated, and real-world feed solutions. The superior performance of S-PaCH is attributed to its strong reduction capability and chemisorption mechanism. Additionally, PM-adsorbed S-PaCH can be refined into high-purity PMs via calcination, used directly as catalysts for dye reduction, or regenerated for reuse, demonstrating its practical feasibility. The study highlights the potential of S-PaCH in various industrial applications, including environmental protection and sustainable development.