Lighting Resources, LLC
Lighting Resources, LLC is the nation's largest lamp recycler, operating 13-14 facilities across the U.S. to provide compliant recycling of lamps, batteries, ballasts, e-waste, mercury devices, and other universal/hazardous waste to businesses, government, retailers, schools, and institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersOntario, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lighting Resources, LLC does
Lighting Resources, LLC is a privately held, nationwide universal and hazardous waste recycling company founded in 1989 in Ontario, California and operating today from Simi Valley, California. It is the nation's largest lamp recycler by industry self-reporting (since 2016), processing fluorescent, HID, and LED lamps, batteries, PCB and non-PCB ballasts, electronic waste, mercury devices, smoke detectors containing Americium-241, tritium exit signs, automotive airbags, and retail consumer returns. The company serves a horizontal customer mix including environmental management organizations (EMOs), lighting management companies and electrical contractors, ESCOs, retailers, government/military/municipalities (under a GSA MAS contract), schools and universities, amusement parks, and power companies. The company operates 13-14 processing and transfer facilities across the U.S. (California, Indiana, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Minnesota, Wisconsin), supported by a fully permitted nationwide truck fleet.
The technology stack centers on state-of-the-art Balcan lamp recycling equipment (more of which the company operates than any other U.S. recycler), high-temperature mercury retort ovens, mercury triple-distillation columns that return recovered mercury to virgin specification, and a proprietary ballast recovery process that reduces up to 80% of waste sent for disposal. The Phoenix, Arizona facility has been the largest PCB ballast processing site in the United States since 1994. In June 2025 the company began shipping phosphorus powder to Rare Earth Recovery Sciences, LLC (RERS) to extract Yttrium, Lanthanum, Cerium, and Europium, positioning it among the few domestic suppliers of recovered rare earth materials and engaging with the Department of Defense on critical-minerals supply.
The business operates two distinct go-to-market motions. The primary motion is enterprise field sales: quote-based pickup of pallet to truckload volumes for businesses and institutions, billed as transaction fees based on material type, quantity, weight, and frequency. The second motion, run through the EZ on the Earth sub-brand (ezonthearth.com), is direct-to-consumer and SMB sales of prepaid, all-inclusive mail-back recycling kits with one-time pricing. Additional revenue streams include exclusive master distribution of LumAware photoluminescent exit signs, sales of LED exit signs and cut-resistant gloves, and licensing/royalty-style revenue from rare earth materials supplied to electronics, automotive, aerospace, and defense customers. The company is wholly owned by the Gillespie Group and led by President Dan Gillespie.
Lighting Resources, LLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lighting Resources, LLC
- Legal name
- Lighting Resources LLC
- Website
- https://lightingresourcesinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lighting Resources, LLC is the nation's largest lamp recycler, operating 13-14 facilities across the U.S. to provide compliant recycling of lamps, batteries, ballasts, e-waste, mercury devices, and other universal/hazardous waste to businesses, government, retailers, schools, and institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lighting Resources, LLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hazardous Waste Recycling Services
- NAICS
- Hazardous Waste Collection (562112)
- akta.pro primary industry
- PCB & Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) Waste Management (Special Handling/Disposal) (BPALAFAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG) (BPALAIAL), Electronics Dismantling & Pre-processing (Depollution, Sorting, Shredding) (EUAIAIAC)
Keywords
Where Lighting Resources, LLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ontario
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
Lighting Resources, LLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Large-Quantity Recycling Services: Lighting Resources picks up large quantities of universal and hazardous waste (bulbs, batteries, ballasts, e-waste, mercury devices, automotive airbags, smoke detectors, tritium exit signs) via its nationwide permitted truck fleet. Customers are businesses, institutions, and government entities that generate bulk volumes. Revenue is earned through service fees based on quantity and type of waste collected and processed.
- EZ on the Earth Mail-Back Recycling Kits: The EZ on the Earth division sells prepaid, all-inclusive mail-back recycling kits (for lamps, batteries, e-scrap, mercury devices, smoke detectors, tritium exit signs, non-PCB ballasts) directly to small businesses and consumers. The price is all-inclusive: kit, prepaid shipping label, and certified recycling in one upfront transaction.
- Product Sales (Exit Signs & Safety Products): Through the EZ on the Earth division, Lighting Resources sells LumAware Advanced Photoluminescent Technology exit signs (zero-energy, maintenance-free, 25-year warranty), photo-luminescent tapes and markings, LED exit signs, and cut-resistant gloves. Revenue is generated through product sales as exclusive master distributor.
- Rare Earth Metal Recovery & Sales: Lighting Resources ships phosphorus powder to Rare Earth Recovery Sciences, LLC (RERS) for rare earth metal extraction (Yttrium, Lanthanum, Cerium, Europium). These rare earth elements are sold as raw materials for use in electronics, automotive, aerospace, and defense technology industries. The company also engages with the Department of Defense as a potential U.S. supplier of rare earth materials.
- Retail Returns / Zero Landfill Recycling: Lighting Resources processes retail consumer returns (merchandise containing mixed materials: batteries, circuit boards, cords, motors, plastics) for zero landfill diversion. Revenue is earned through per-unit or per-weight processing fees from retailers and OEMs seeking brand protection, compliance, and assured destruction.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Large Quantity Bulk Pickup Services — businesses with pallets or truckloads of recyclables |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | EZ on the Earth Prepaid Mail-Back Recycle Kits — small office or household needs |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Retail Returns Processing — zero landfill recycling for retailers and OEMs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Lighting Resources, LLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lighting Resources is a nationwide recycling services company that collects, transports, and processes universal and hazardous waste — primarily fluorescent lamps, batteries, PCB and non-PCB ballasts, e-waste, mercury devices, smoke detectors, tritium exit signs, automotive airbags, and retail consumer returns — through a fully permitted truck fleet, 14 processing/transfer facilities, and the EZ on the Earth prepaid mail-back kit program. It operates the largest PCB ballast processing facility in the United States and recovers mercury to virgin specification via proprietary retort and triple distillation equipment.
Product overview
Lighting Resources, LLC operates as the nation's largest lamp/bulb recycler, offering a comprehensive suite of recycling services for universal and hazardous waste. The core offering is the bulk recycling service for lamps (fluorescent, LED, HID), batteries, PCB and non-PCB ballasts, electronic waste, mercury devices, retail returns, smoke detectors, tritium exit signs, and automotive airbags. The company operates 14 processing and transfer facilities nationwide with its own permitted truck fleet. A key sub-brand is EZ on the Earth, which provides prepaid mail-back recycling kits for small-quantity generators, including lamps, batteries, ballasts, e-scrap, mercury devices, smoke detectors, and tritium exit signs. EZ on the Earth also distributes safety products including LumAware Advanced Photoluminescent Technology exit signs (exclusive distribution), LED exit signs, and cut-resistant gloves. Rare earth metals (Yttrium, Lanthanum, Cerium, Europium) are recovered from phosphorus powder in partnership with Rare Earth Recovery Sciences, LLC (RERS).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EZ on the Earth: Division of Lighting Resources providing prepaid mail-back recycling kits for lamps, batteries, ballasts, e-scrap, mercury devices, smoke detectors, and tritium exit signs for small quantity generators.
Products and services
- Lamp/Bulb Recycling Services Nationwide recycling of fluorescent tubes, CFLs, circular fluorescent, HID, incandescent, halogen, neon, and LED bulbs, with mercury removal via retort ovens and triple distillation to virgin specification. Targeted at businesses, institutions, and government entities.
- Battery Recycling Services
Quantifiable outcome
- One fluorescent bulb contains enough mercury to pollute 6,000 gallons of water
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Lighting Resources, LLC
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Lighting Resources, LLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Lighting Resources, LLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Rare Earth Recovery Sciences, LLC (RERS)coreLighting Resources ships phosphorus powder (byproduct of lamp recycling) to Rare Earth Recovery Sciences, LLC for rare earth metal extraction. RERS is owned by the Gillespie Group and is one of the only companies in the U.S. capable of extracting rare earth metals (Yttrium, Lanthanum, Cerium, Europium) from phosphorus powder. Lighting Resources and RERS are in discussions with congressional committees and the Department of Defense to become U.S. domestic suppliers of rare earth materials for defense and electronics manufacturing.
- LumAwarecoreThe EZ on the Earth Division of Lighting Resources entered an agreement to become the exclusive master distributor of LumAware Advanced Photoluminescent Technology exit signs, photo-luminescent tapes, markings, and patented epoxy for stair noses. These zero-energy, maintenance-free exit signs carry a 25-year warranty and do not require battery replacement or routine testing.
- Save the FrogsminorEZ on the Earth contributes a portion of all sales of its recycle kits to www.savethefrogs.com and educates children about the importance of protecting the environment. This is a charitable and educational marketing partnership aligned with the company's environmental mission.
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)coreLighting Resources holds a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract with the U.S. General Services Administration, enabling the company to bid on government projects for 'Materials and Waste Recycling and Disposal Services.' This contract enables access to government buyers across federal agencies, military installations, and municipalities.
- National Association of Lighting Management (NALMCO)minorLighting Resources actively engages in and supports the lighting industry through involved board participation in NALMCO, which connects the company with lighting management companies and electrical contractors who need lamp and ballast recycling services.
- Professional Lighting and Sign Management of America (PLASMA)minorLighting Resources actively engages in and supports the lighting industry through involved board participation in PLASMA, connecting the company with professional lighting and sign management professionals who require compliant recycling services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lighting Resources, LLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Veolia North America: Veolia operates hazardous waste treatment, lamp recycling, and electronic waste services across North America as part of its global environmental solutions portfolio. The companies compete for the same enterprise customers seeking turnkey universal-waste solutions with sustainability reporting.
- Republic Services, Inc. Republic Services is one of the largest US recycling and waste management companies with lamp and battery recycling services sold to enterprise and municipal customers. Comparable in scale and customer overlap with national enterprise accounts and government contracts.
- Stericycle, Inc. Stericycle provides regulated waste management including lamp/bulb recycling, battery recycling, and mail-back kits for small-quantity generators, with a national footprint. Both companies serve hospital, educational, and retail customers with EPA-compliant disposal plus EZ on the Earth-style mail-back programs.
- Waste Management, Inc. Waste Management operates the largest US waste and recycling network, including lamp/battery recycling mail-back programs (ThinkGreenFromHome) for residential and SMB customers. Competes with EZ on the Earth in the small-quantity, mail-back segment.
- Clean Harbors, Inc. Clean Harbors is the largest North American hazardous waste disposal and recycling company, offering lamp recycling, e-waste, and industrial waste services. Both companies serve regulated-waste generators nationwide with permitted processing facilities and transportation fleets, making Clean Harbors the most direct large-scale comparable to Lighting Resources' core services.
Direct peers
- Call2Recycle: Call2Recycle is the leading North American consumer battery and cell-phone stewardship program, offering mail-back recycling kits similar to EZ on the Earth's battery kits. Both organizations compete for stewardship contracts with OEMs, retailers, and state programs.
- Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Heritage-Crystal Clean provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste services to small and mid-sized industrial customers across the US, including used oil and parts cleaning. It is a more focused, smaller-scale competitor serving similar SMB regulated-waste generators that Lighting Resources targets.
Emerging players
- TerraCycle, Inc. TerraCycle specializes in hard-to-recycle waste streams and offers zero-landfill mail-back recycling programs targeting consumers and brands. While operating at smaller scale with a different mix of materials, TerraCycle overlaps with EZ on the Earth's mail-back and brand-protection value propositions, particularly for retail returns.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lighting Resources, LLC social profiles
Digital presenceLighting Resources, LLC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Lighting Resources, LLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lighting Resources, LLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lighting Resources, LLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lighting Resources, LLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lighting Resources, LLC
What does Lighting Resources, LLC do?
Lighting Resources is a nationwide recycling services company that collects, transports, and processes universal and hazardous waste — primarily fluorescent lamps, batteries, PCB and non-PCB ballasts, e-waste, mercury devices, smoke detectors, tritium exit signs, automotive airbags, and retail consumer returns — through a fully permitted truck fleet, 14 processing/transfer facilities, and the EZ on the Earth prepaid mail-back kit program. It operates the largest PCB ballast processing facility in the United States and recovers mercury to virgin specification via proprietary retort and triple distillation equipment.
Is Lighting Resources, LLC a public or private company?
Lighting Resources, LLC is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Lighting Resources, LLC founded?
Lighting Resources, LLC was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lighting Resources, LLC based?
Lighting Resources, LLC is headquartered in Ontario, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lighting Resources, LLC make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Large-Quantity Recycling Services are the primary driver. The others are EZ on the Earth Mail-Back Recycling Kits, product Sales (Exit Signs & Safety Products), rare Earth Metal Recovery & Sales and retail Returns / Zero Landfill Recycling.
Who are Lighting Resources, LLC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Veolia North America, Republic Services, Inc., Stericycle, Inc., Waste Management, Inc. and Clean Harbors, Inc.. Direct peers are Call2Recycle and Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.. TerraCycle, Inc. is listed as an emerging player.
Does Lighting Resources, LLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lighting Resources, LLC.
What industry is Lighting Resources, LLC in?
Lighting Resources, LLC's product category is Hazardous Waste Recycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALAFAK, PCB & Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) Waste Management (Special Handling/Disposal), with a secondary code of BPALAIAL, Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG). Its NAICS code is 562112.