Abstract
In South Africa, approximately 10 million tonnes (Mt) of food is wasted every year. Fruits,
vegetables and cereals account for 70% of the wastage and loss. Food waste (FW) has
numerous negative impacts on the health of humans, animals and the environment when
disposed. A processing plant in Gauteng also experiences solid food wastage due
ineffective waste management. It is therefore important to find ways of implementing
sustainable waste management. This study aimed to identify possible solutions to reduce the
amount of FW to landfill. This is achieved by identifying the source of FW, establishing the
current FW management challenges, identifying possible solutions to reduce the amount
of FW to landfill and by providing recommendations regarding waste mechanisms.
A mixed method approach was used that included qualitative and quantitative techniques
and questionnaires and interviews were utilized to collect data. The first questionnaire
investigated the food waste management practices within the processing plant and 50
respondents completed the questionnaires. The second questionnaire was for the three
waste collectors and it was aimed at understanding how waste is disposed and waste
management challenges thereof. Inputs of possible measures that can be put in place to
have effective solid waste management were also given. Five management personnel
were interviewed on aspects such as source of food waste, cost of disposal, waste volume,
barriers to effective waste management and potential solutions for managing waste were
explored. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis and quantitative data was
analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
The study concluded that the production staff had high levels awareness and knowledge,
and positive attitudes towards waste management in the plant and their behaviour towards
waste management is positive. Furthermore, the respondents identified that staff training,
minimising overstocking, buying fresh stock, good storage management practices, proper
production planning, cleaning of processing plant, practicing First-in-First- Out (FIFO)
method, ensuring proper refrigeration, effective monitoring of fridge temperature, rework,
proper pest control evaluation, good staff behavior and establishment of internal waste
management audit can lead to effective solid waste management. The waste collectors
wear protective clothing when handling the waste and disposing waste onto the landfill,
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they recommend organic waste to be used for composting. The management staff
identified lack of waste separation at source, lack of training, lack of waste management
team, high employee turnover, lack of records on FW waste, increase in product returns,
budget constraints and the current FW policy are the factors that hinder effective solid
waste management. They also identified composting, biofuel and animal feed as
measures that can be put in place to manage FW.