Rare-earth　tricolored　phosphorescent　powders　(RETPPs)　waste　is　a　prime　target　for　recovery　of　the　scarcest,　highest-market-value,　and　most　important　rare-earth　elements,　such　as　yttrium　and　europium.　Thus,　in　this　study,　we　assessed　a　two-step　method　for　the　selective　recovery　of　Y　and　Eu　from　the　RETPPs　waste.　The　method　involves　an　acid-leaching　step　using　an　＂HCl　+　H2O2＂　system　to　yield　a　Y-Eu　solution,　followed　by　photo-reduction　with　(NH4)(2)SO4　to　precipitate　Eu　as　EuSO4.　We　optimized　the　conditions　of　each　step.　Acid　leaching　was　best　performed　with　1　mol/L　HCl　in　the　presence　of　2　mL　H2O2　(per　500　mL)　at　50　degrees　C　for　4　h,　resulting　in　high　Y　(99.9%)　and　Eu　(61.2%)　yields　with　relatively　low　impurities.　Photo　reduction　was　best　performed　with　(NR4)(2)SO4　concentration　of　50　mM,　pH　similar　to　4,　and　irradiation　with　a　254-nm　ultraviolet　lamp　irradiation　for　42　h,　resulting　in　a　98.5%　yield　of　high-purity　(96.7%)　EuSO4.　These　findings　can　help　improve　secondary　resource　recovery　technologies　for　rare-earth　elements.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.