A LCD display backlight system with improved color mixing and efficiency comprises a reflective surface, a plurality of light sources mounted on the reflective surface, a plurality of fractional wave plates and a reflective polarizer. The plurality of fractional wave plates is mounted on spaces between the plurality of light sources on the reflective surface. The reflective polarizer transmits light having a useable polarization and reflects back unused polarization of light onto the reflective surface. A portion of the unused polarization of light reflected from the reflective polarizer passes through a fractional wave plate. The reflective surface reflects the portion of the unused polarization of light through the fractional wave plate such that the polarization of the unused polarization of light is changed to useable polarization, thereby recycling the unused polarization of light into useful light.