Paprec Metabader buys Swiss recycler Barec, lifting network to 41 sites
What's the deal? Paprec Metabader has acquired Barec, a recycling company based in Ecublens near Lausanne. The French parent group Paprec did not disclose financial terms. Barec employs around 300 people across eight sites.
What's included? The take-over covers Barec's subsidiaries Papirec and Datarec, which handle recovered paper and confidential destruction, plus Thévenaz-Leduc, whose activities span waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), end-of-life vehicles, and metals recycling.
Why now? Paprec is pushing to expand in Switzerland. The company says integrating Barec will bring its Swiss network to 41 sites and a workforce of around 1,300.
What's the endgame? Paprec Metabader itself was formed in July 2026, when Paprec's Swiss unit merged with metal recycler Metabader. The combined group says it will operate across its sites, employ about 1,000 people, and process roughly 900,000 tonnes of material a year, with projected 2026 revenue of US$320.8M.
The signal: The Barec deal is the latest in Paprec's acquisition run, which in 2026 also included expansion into Central Europe and control of French waste company Pizzorno. The moves point to steady consolidation in European recycling, as larger groups add local reach and metals-recycling capacity through bolt-on buys.
Read more: euwid-recycling.com
Image credit: fabola