Recofrades

Story

1998

It was the 90s, and his father, Vitor Rocha, was already working in the recycling area, mainly collecting paper and cardboard from commerce and some more local industry. However, in 1998, there was a great stimulus for the future of this family micro-business. At that time, Son Nuno Rocha ended his military service and, together with his Father, decided to join forces and found RECOFRADES, based in his homeland.

The Company started by continuing the previous work, that is, by working only with paper. As a result of the new family dynamics, the Management expanded the business to plastic. With the normal operation of the Company, other waste was incorporated, such as glass, metals and wood from packaging.

2003

The company's growth led, in 2003, to the Management looking for and leasing an industrial pavilion, to house its operations of reception, sorting and repackaging of materials, to be sent to final recycling destinations. A few years later, in 2007, these facilities were even purchased by RECOFRADES. This new phase of the Company was not limited to investment in facilities, but also resulted in the acquisition of trucks, in containers and, consequently, in the integration of more people in the Company. In 2003, the first machine for baling cardboard and paper was acquired.

2007

It was precisely on the 15th of October, when “all the effort and investment made in the Company literally disappeared”. The great fire that hit the Center region completely destroyed the facilities and equipment of RECOFRADES, in addition to all the material in stock. “I didn’t see firefighters, there was no water in the hydrant because there was no longer any water from the mains, there was no way to put it out” – Nuno Rocha (Observador, 10/18/2017).

A national tragedy that deeply affected this family business and that certainly shook this Entrepreneur's confidence. But that was only for hours. Nuno Rocha did not want to leave what he and his Father had already “built by hand”. The day after he was left completely with nothing, like Fénix who was reborn from the ashes, Nuno Rocha immediately started the process of rebirthing the Company. It was then possible to lease another industrial warehouse and start looking for solutions to build new facilities in the same location and acquire new equipment.

2018

As a result of a lot of commitment, effort and overcoming all the capabilities of the RECOFRADES Team, on October 15, 2018, the Company's new facilities are inaugurated, already operating with new industrial equipment. However, the Management of RECOFRADES has the humility to recognize that, during this arduous task, it can count on the understanding and collaboration of Customers, Suppliers, Local and Governmental Entities, such as CCDR-C.