First Installation of "SmaGO" Compacting Smart Waste Bins in Hakone-machi Park, Kanagawa Prefecture

On March 24, 2026, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture (Mayor: Hiroyuki Katsumata), Odakyu Hakone Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Hidehiro Mizukami; hereinafter "Odakyu Hakone"), and Forcetech Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yohei Takemura; hereinafter "Forcetech") installed five environmentally friendly IoT smart waste bins "SmaGO" at Ashinoko Hakone-machi Park, one of Hakone's representative tourist destinations, and commenced operations. On the same day, a ceremony was held on-site with relevant parties. This initiative was realized through Odakyu Hakone's donation of SmaGO to Hakone Town. The newly installed SmaGO is equipped with a function that automatically compacts waste to approximately one-fifth of its original volume using solar power, and a function that notifies of the accumulated amount, enabling efficient collection while preventing waste overflow. This initiative aims to suppress waste overflow, maintain scenery, and streamline collection operations by replacing existing waste bins with SmaGO in the Hakone area, a representative tourist destination in Japan that welcomes many visitors from both Japan and abroad. ◾️Background of SmaGO Installation in Hakone-machi Park The area around Lake Ashi is a transportation and tourism hub in the Hakone area, attracting over 20 million tourists annually from Japan and overseas. It is known as a departure and arrival point for pirate ships and pleasure boats, and the finish line of the Hakone Ekiden, making it one of Hakone's most iconic locations. However, especially during peak seasons such as summer, waste often overflows from existing bins, posing challenges for scenic beauty and collection operations. In this situation, Odakyu Hakone's donation of SmaGO as part of its regional contribution led to this installation. Odakyu Hakone has deep ties with the region as a company responsible for tourist transportation in the Hakone area, including the Hakone Tozan Railway, Hakone Ropeway, and Hakone Pirate Ship on Lake Ashi. This donation was made as an initiative to contribute to environmental improvement in a related region. About the Letter of Appreciation Ceremony and Unveiling Event On March 24, 2026, a ceremony was held at Hakone-machi Park with relevant parties to commemorate this installation. Representatives from Hakone Town, Odakyu Hakone, and Forcetech attended, where SmaGO was unveiled and a letter of appreciation was presented. ◾️About the Smart Waste Bin SmaGO SmaGO is an IoT smart waste bin developed by Forcetech with consideration for the global environment. It operates on solar power to automatically compact waste to approximately one-fifth of its volume and has a communication function to notify the amount of accumulated waste. This allows for significant efficiency improvements in collection operations while preventing waste overflow. Additionally, the wrapping can be freely designed for awareness campaigns on sorting, etc., and operational costs can be reduced by soliciting sponsorships. The installation of SmaGO addresses six of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. 【Examples of Introduction Effects】 ・Tokyo Omotesando/Harajuku Area: Approximately 70% reduction in collection frequency ・Osaka Dotonbori Area: Approximately 90% reduction in littering (excluding cigarette butts) ◾️Future Developments Forcetech will continue to work on solving waste problems in tourist destinations and urban areas through collaboration with local governments, transportation operators, and local businesses. Through operations in the Hakone area, the company plans to verify sustainable environmental development methods in tourist destinations and expand deployments to various locations. ◾️About Forcetech Co., Ltd. Company Name: Forcetech Co., Ltd. Established: April 15, 2019 Location: Otemachi One Tower 6F, 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004 Representative: Yohei Takemura, President and CEO Business Activities: Proposing environmental activities that integrate cities, companies, and people through the installation of smart waste bins "SmaGO" across Japan. Official Website: https://forcetec.jp ◾️Inquiries Forcetech Co., Ltd. Public Relations Phone: 03-3453-7140 Inquiry Form: https://smago.jp/contact/