GLYCIDYL methacrylate (GMA) polymerization with waste cotton fabric by utilizing a co-initiator of ferrous cellulose thiocarbonate–hydrogen peroxide redox system was first studied under various conditions. These include the polymerization time, temperature, liquor ratio, pH and concentrations of the initiator and monomer. The product cellulose-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) graft copolymer (CPGMA) produced at best polymerization conditions was then functionalized with triethylammonium chloride (TEAC), aiming to obtain a low-cost adsorbent for dye removal from wastewater. Also, factors that affecting the amination reaction, which include; reaction time, temperature, liquor ratio, pH, and aminating agent/epoxy molar ratio were studied. The prepared amino-functionalized cellulose-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) graft copolymer (AM-CPGMA) was further characterized by the FT-IR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and surface area measurement based on Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) theories. The dye adsorption capacity of the anion exchanger was also evaluated.