The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality as a Microcosm of Fruit and Vegetable Waste Governance Failure in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Evidence from Formal and Informal Retailers

FVW has become a major sustainability concern due to rapid urbanization and rising demand for fresh produce in LMIC. This study investigates FVW governance by assessing awareness levels and FVW management practices among formal and informal fruit and vegetable retailers in Region F of the COJMM. Quantitative, descriptive design was employed. Data were collected using questionnaires that assessed demographic details, awareness of FVW, and current FVW management practices. The findings from 43 formal and 118 informal retailers revealed fragmented governance across the retail sectors. 54.2% of informal retailers reported being unaware of municipal waste management by-laws, and 83.9% indicated that disposal was the only effective waste management method. Formal retailers showed greater awareness of the impacts of poor FVW management (83.7% agreed or strongly agreed), yet 65.1% still relied primarily on disposal practices. The findings show limited awareness of municipal waste governance tools and reliance on disposal, with minimal FVW valorization. Chi-square results showed that age, gender, and education significantly influence awareness among informal retailers, while no significant differences were found among formal retailers. The study concludes that unsustainable FVW management is driven by structural governance limitations, highlighting the need for inclusive approaches to improve urban FVW governance in LMIC.