An econometric analysis of the cost of fruit and vegetable waste in retail operations in Durban City, KwaZulu-Natal Province

Abstract

Food waste has become a major global sustainability challenge with significant envi-ronmental, economic, and social implications. In South Africa, approximately 10.3 mil-lion tonnes of food are wasted annually, resulting in substantial economic losses across the food supply chain. Despite increasing concern regarding food waste, lim-ited empirical research has focused on the economic costs and operational determi-nants of fruit and vegetable waste within retail operations particularly in urban contexts such as Durban. This study aimed to quantify the cost and monetary value of fruit and vegetable waste in retail operations in Durban City, KwaZulu-Natal Province and to identify the factors influencing waste generation. The study further sought to propose pathways for reduc-ing fruit and vegetable waste within retail environments. A positivist research paradigm and quantitative cross-sectional research design were adopted. Data was collected from 100 selected retail stores located within the Durban Central Business District using structured questionnaires, waste composition analysis, and direct observation methods. Cluster sampling was used to group retail stores within four precincts of Durban CBD. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regres-sion and ordinal logistic regression through SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The findings revealed that leafy vegetables constituted the highest category of fruit and vegetable waste while berries generated relatively lower waste volumes but higher monetary losses due to their high market value. The multiple regression model indi-cated that the predictor variables collectively explained a significant proportion of the variation in food waste costs (R2=0.971, p<0.001). However, at the individual level, only the total quantity of fruits and vegetables sold per month significantly influenced food waste costs, while landfill disposal costs were not statistically significant inde-pendent predictor. The ordinal logistic regression results showed that none of the op-erational predictor variables independently explained food waste generation, suggest-ing that food waste within retail environments is systemic and multifactorial. Retailers identified infrastructure limitations, handling practices, demand forecasting chal-lenges, and awareness as important contributors to food waste generation. The study viii contributes to the limited body of knowledge on retail fruit and vegetable waste quan-tification within South Africa and provides evidence-based recommendations aligned with the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS). The study recommends in-tegrated interventions focusing on awareness, improved planning and forecasting, in-frastructure investment, redistribution initiatives and technology-based waste manage-ment systems to reduce fruit and vegetable waste within retail operations.

Imfucuza yokudla isibe yinselele enkulu yokuzinza emhlabeni wonke enemiphumela ebalulekile kwezemvelo, kwezomnotho, kanye nakwezenhlalo. ENingizimu Afrika, cishe amathani ayizigidi eziyi-10.3 okudla ayachithwa minyaka yonke, okuholela eku-lahlekelweni okukhulu kwezomnotho kulo lonke uchungechunge lokuhlinzekwa ko-kudla. Naphezu kokukhathazeka okwandayo mayelana nemfucuza yokudla, ucwan-ingo olulinganiselwe olusekelwe emibonweni luye lwagxila ezindleleni zomnotho kanye nasezicini zokusebenza kwemfucuza yezithelo nemifino emisebenzini yokuthengisa ikakhulukazi ezindaweni zasemadolobheni njengeTheku. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukulinganisa izindleko kanye nenani lemali lemfucuza yezithelo nemifino emisebenzini yokuthengisa eDolobheni laseTheku, eSifundazweni saKwa-Zulu-Natali kanye nokuhlonza izici ezithonya ukukhiqizwa kwemfucuza. Ucwaningo luqhubeke nokuzama izindlela zokunciphisa imfucuza yezithelo nemifino ezindaweni zokuthengisa. Kwamukelwa indlela yokucwaninga ekhuthazayo kanye nomklamo wocwaningo oluhlanganisa izingxenye eziningana. Idatha yaqoqwa ezitolo zo-kuthengisa eziyi-100 ezikhethiwe eziseSifundeni Sebhizinisi Esiphakathi saseT-hekwini kusetshenziswa imibuzo ehlelekile, ukuhlaziywa kokwakheka kwemfucuza, kanye nezindlela zokubuka ngqo. Ukusampula kweqembu kwasetshenziswa ukuqoqa izitolo zokuthengisa ngaphakathi kwezindawo ezine ze-CBD yaseThekwini. Idatha yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa izibalo ezichazayo, ukuhlehla okuqondile okuningi kanye nokuhlehla kwe-ordinal logistic nge-SPSS kanye ne-Microsoft Excel. Okutholakele kwembule ukuthi imifino enamaqabunga yakha isigaba esiphezulu sem-fucuza yezithelo nemifino kuyilapho amajikijolo ekhiqiza inani eliphansi lemfucuza kodwa elahlekelwa kakhulu yimali ngenxa yenani lawo eliphezulu lemakethe. Imodeli yokubuyela emuva okuningi ibonise ukuthi iziguquguquli zokubikezela zichaze ingxenye enkulu yokwehluka kwezindleko zemfucuza yokudla (R2=0.971, p<0.001). Kodwa-ke, ezingeni lomuntu ngamunye, inani eliphelele lezithelo nemifino ethen-giswayo ngenyanga kuphela elithonye kakhulu izindleko zemfucuza yokudla, kuyilapho izindleko zokulahla imfucuza zazingeyona into ebikezela ngokuzimela ebaluleke kakhulu ngokwezibalo. Imiphumela yokubuyela emuva kwe-ordinal logistic ibonise ukuthi azikho iziguquguquli zokusebenza ezichaza ngokuzimela ukukhiqizwa x kwemfucuza yokudla, okuphakamisa ukuthi imfucuza yokudla ezindaweni zo-kuthengisa ihlelekile futhi inezici eziningi. Abathengisi bathole imikhawulo yengqal-asizinda, imikhuba yokuphatha, izinselele zokubikezela isidingo, kanye nokuqwashisa njengezinto ezibalulekile ezibangela ukukhiqizwa kwemfucuza yokudla. Ucwaningo lufaka isandla olwazini olulinganiselwe mayelana nokulinganiswa kwemfucuza yezithelo nemifino ezitolo eNingizimu Afrika futhi lunikeza izincomo ezisekelwe ebufa-kazini ezihambisana ne-National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS). Ucwaningo luncoma ukungenelela okuhlanganisiwe okugxile ekuqwashiseni, ekuhleleni naseku-bikezeleni okuthuthukisiwe, ekutshalweni kwezimali kwengqalasizinda, ekusat-shalalisweni kabusha kwezinhlelo kanye nezinhlelo zokuphathwa kwemfucuza esekelwe kubuchwepheshe ukuze kuncishiswe imfucuza yezithelo nemifino emisebenzini yokuthengisa.

Voedselvermorsing het 'n groot wêreldwye volhoubaarheidsuitdaging geword met beduidende omgewings-, ekonomiese en sosiale implikasies. In Suid-Afrika word on-geveer 10,3 miljoen ton voedsel jaarliks vermors, wat lei tot aansienlike ekonomiese verliese regdeur die voedselvoorsieningsketting. Ten spyte van toenemende kommer oor voedselvermorsing, het beperkte empiriese navorsing gefokus op die ekonomiese koste en operasionele determinante van vrugte- en groentevermorsing binne klein-handelbedrywighede, veral in stedelike kontekste soos Durban. Herdie studie het ten doel gehad om die koste en monetêre waarde van vrugte- en groentevermorsing in kleinhandelbedrywighede in Durban Stad, KwaZulu-Natal Provinsie, te kwantifiseer en die faktore wat afvalgenerering beïnvloed, teidentifiseer. Die studie het verder gepoog om paaie voor te stel vir die vermindering van vrugte- en groentevermorsing binne kleinhandelomgewings. 'n Positivistiese navorsingspara-digma en kwantitatiewe dwarssnitnavorsingsontwerp is aangeneem. Data is in-gesamel van 100 geselekteerde kleinhandelwinkels in die Durban Sentrale Sakege-bied deur gebruik te maak van gestruktureerde vraelyste, afvalsamestellingsanalise en direkte waarnemingsmetodes. Trossteekproefneming is gebruik om kleinhandel-winkels binne vier gebiede van Durban CBD te groepeer. Data is geanaliseer met behulp van beskrywende statistieke, veelvuldige lineêre regressie en ordinale logistiese regressie deur SPSS en Microsoft Excel. Die bevindinge het aan die lig gebring dat blaargroente die hoogste kategorie van vrugte- en groente-afval uitmaak, terwyl bessies relatief laer afvalvolumes, maar hoër monetêre verliese as gevolg van hul hoë markwaarde, gegenereer het. Die meervoudige regressiemodel het aangedui dat die voorspellerveranderlikes gesamentlik 'n beduidende deel van die variasie in voedselafvalkoste verklaar het (R2=0.971, p<0.001). Op individuele vlak het slegs die totale hoeveelheid vrugte en groente wat per maand verkoop is, egter voedselafvalkoste beduidend beïnvloed, ter-wyl stortingsterreinverwyderingskoste nie statisties beduidende onafhanklike voor-speller was nie. Die ordinale logistiese regressie-resultate het getoon dat geeneen van die operasionele voorspellerveranderlikes onafhanklik die opwekking van voed-selafval verklaar het nie, wat daarop dui dat voedselafval binne kleinhandelomgewings xii sistemies en multifaktoriaal is. Kleinhandelaars het infrastruktuurbeperkings, hanter-ingspraktyke, vraagvoorspellingsuitdagings en bewustheid as belangrike bydraers tot die opwekking van voedselafval geïdentifiseer. Die studie dra by tot die beperkte hoev-eelheid kennis oor die kwantifisering van kleinhandel-vrugte- en groente-afval in Suid-Afrika en verskaf bewysgebaseerde aanbevelings wat in lyn is met die Nasionale Afvalbestuurstrategie (NWMS). Die studie beveel geïntegreerde intervensies aan wat fokus op bewustheid, verbeterde beplanning en voorspelling, infrastruktuurbelegging, herverdelingsinisiatiewe en tegnologie-gebaseerde afvalbestuurstelsels om vrugte- en groentevermorsing binne kleinhandelbedrywighede te verminder.