Lysosomes are membrane-bound vesicular structures holding a variety of enzymes such as lipases, proteases and amylases.

The purpose of lysosomes is to digest old, functionless cells. These are involved in the intracellular digestion of foreign food particles and microbes. They are also involved in the self digestion of cells. They are a kind of waste disposal systems of a cell.

On the other hand, vacuoles are storage sacs found in cells. They might store the waste products of cells. In unicellular organisms, the food vacuole contains the consumed food particles. It also plays a role in expelling excess water and some wastes from the cell.