Sector IntelligenceZurich

VALUATION DIAGNOSTIC
Waste Management & Recycling

Specific market analysis for Waste Management & Recycling companies based in Zurich.

Pro-Forma Valuation

Market demand in Zurich for Waste Management & Recycling assets remains strong.

KEY DRIVER

"Market consolidation and efficiency."

Local Multiples (Est.)

N/Ax Statutory

Valuation Impact by Size (DACH 2025)

Size BucketMultiple RangeImpact
Micro (< CHF 1M EBITDA)2.5x - 3.4x-33.3%
Small (CHF 1M - 2M EBITDA)3.5x - 4.7x-6.7%
Transition (CHF 2M - 5M EBITDA)4.3x - 5.8x+11.1%
Lower Mid-Market (CHF 5M - 10M EBITDA)5.8x - 7.8x+33.3%
Mid-Market (> CHF 10M EBITDA)7.3x - 9.9x+66.7%

Source: NIMBO, Dealsuite, KPMG, SECA, Practitioner Interviews // Niche Baseline: 5x

Waste Management & Recycling Market in Zurich

Zurich — known for its role as a financial hub, high market liquidity — represents a significant market for Waste Management & Recycling companies in Switzerland. The local business environment is shaped by the canton's economic profile, offering distinct opportunities for both buyers and sellers in this niche.

Current EBITDA multiples for Waste Management & Recycling businesses range from N/Ax (statutory) to 5.0 - 8.0x (deal), reflecting a moderate arbitrage opportunity. The sector trend is rising, driven by: Market consolidation and efficiency. This positions Zurich as a notable market within the broader Services & Logistics sector.

ZurichEconomy Snapshot

Corporate Tax 2026
19.47%
Rank 25/26
Enterprises 2024
113,101
99.6% SMEs
Unemployment
2.9%
SECO, Aug. 2026
Median Wage
CHF 7,502
/month, the Zurich region 2024
Board Paralysis Risk
15.9%
of audited companies

Why Waste Management & Recycling in Zurich?

In Zurich, the Energy, water, waste & mining sector had 453 workplaces and 8,622 jobs in 2024, 0.7% of all jobs in the canton (0.7× its share in Switzerland). Source: BFS STATENT.

  • Largest cantonal economy: 20.8% of Swiss GDP, 1,149,866 jobs and 113,101 enterprises
  • Highest cantonal shares of finance (7.9%) and information and communication (6.4%) employment in Switzerland
  • ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and ZHAW anchor a research and education base employing 9.4% of the workforce

Tax Impact on Valuation

Zurich's maximum effective corporate tax rate is 19.47% in 2026 (KPMG), rank 25 of 26 cantons, where 1 is the lowest. A company there keeps CHF 80.53 of every CHF 100 of pre-tax profit, which feeds directly into the after-tax cash flows a Waste Management & Recycling buyer pays for.

FAQ: Waste Management & Recycling in Zurich

How many Waste Management & Recycling companies are in Zurich?

According to BFS STATENT 2024, Zurich had 453 workplaces in the Energy, water, waste & mining sector, employing 8,622 people (0.7% of all jobs in the canton).

What is the corporate tax rate in Zurich?

KPMG's Clarity on Swiss Taxes 2026 puts the maximum effective corporate income tax rate in Zurich (federal, cantonal and communal taxes combined) at 19.47% (2025: 19.61%): rank 25 of 26, counting from the lowest rate (Swiss average: 14.43%). The maximum income tax rate for a single person, including federal tax, is 39.10%: rank 20 of 26, counting from the lowest rate (average: 33.04%).

What are Waste Management & Recycling valuation multiples in Zurich?

Current statutory EBITDA multiples for Waste Management & Recycling range from N/Ax. Deal-based multiples are 5.0 - 8.0x. These are influenced by Zurich's tax environment and local market conditions.

What is the business succession outlook in Zurich?

ValIndex's national board-paralysis study (June 2026) covers 2,785 audited companies registered in Zurich. For 443 of them (15.9%), no one would be left able to sign for the company if the principal signatory died: the 13th-lowest share of the 26 cantons (Switzerland: 32%). Of 3,254 substantive GmbHs with a registered seat in Zurich, 56.0% belong to a single person (the 9th-lowest share of the 26 cantons; Switzerland: 55.5%), according to ValIndex's July 2026 ownership study.

Explore all industries in Zurich

Canton hub: tax data, industry composition, key employers

View Complete Waste Management & Recycling National Overview →

Full Swiss market analysis across all 26 cantons, including comparable M&A transactions and sector trends.

Market Pulse

Waste Management & Recycling in Zurich — stay ahead

Weekly Swiss M&A deals, valuation multiples, and succession signals across Switzerland — free, every Friday.

Free weekly newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.