Five Smart Trash Bins 'SmaGO' Installed at Moto-Hakone Port in Kanagawa Prefecture, Second Location in Hakone Town Following Successful Waste Overflow Reduction

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, five units of 'SmaGO (Smago)', an eco-friendly IoT smart trash bin developed by Forcetec Inc. (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Yohei Takemura; hereinafter 'Forcetec'), were installed near the boat terminal at Moto-Hakone Port in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture.

In the Hakone area, which welcomes over 20 million domestic and international tourists annually, this installation strengthens waste management efforts ahead of the summer tourist season through a public-private partnership between Hakone Town and Odakyu Hakone Co., Ltd. It follows the March 2026 installation at Lake Ashi's Hakone Town Garden, making it the second location in the town to adopt SmaGO.

SmaGO installed near the Moto-Hakone Port boat terminal

◾️ Background

Moto-Hakone Port serves as a departure and arrival hub for sightseeing boats touring Lake Ashi. The surrounding area is home to tourist attractions such as Hakone Shrine, and experiences a significant increase in foot traffic, especially during peak seasons like Golden Week and summer.

While conventional trash bins have been in use, waste generation during high-traffic periods has often exceeded collection capacity, resulting in overflowing bins. This has posed challenges in terms of landscape preservation and increased burden on collection operations.

SmaGO is a smart trash bin powered by solar energy, equipped with automatic compaction and communication functions that allow remote monitoring of waste accumulation levels. By replacing existing bins with SmaGO, the initiative aims to prevent overflow while maintaining scenic beauty and improving collection efficiency.

SmaGO installed at Moto-Hakone Port, with views of Lake Ashi and sightseeing boats

◾️ Second Installation in Hakone Town

Within Hakone Town, five existing trash bins at Lake Ashi's Hakone Town Garden were replaced with SmaGO units on March 24, 2026, commencing operations. Since the launch, Hakone Town has confirmed positive outcomes, including the elimination of waste overflow and a reduction in surrounding littering.

The installation at Moto-Hakone Port marks the second location in the town, bringing the total number of SmaGO units in operation within Hakone Town to 10 across two sites.

◾️ Installation Overview

・Location: Near the Moto-Hakone Port boat terminal

・Installation Date: July 14, 2026 (Tuesday)

・Number of Units: 5 SmaGO units (one location)

・Sorting Categories: Combustible waste / empty cans / empty bottles / PET bottles / PET bottles

・Installing Authority: Hakone Town

※ Installation funded through the Japan Tourism Agency's 'FY2026 Project to Promote Environmental Improvements at Tourist Destinations, Including Prevention and Mitigation of Overtourism'

Five SmaGO units supporting four sorting categories: 'combustible waste', 'empty cans', 'empty bottles', and 'PET bottles'. A scene of properly sorting and depositing a PET bottle into SmaGO

◾️ About the Smart Trash Bin SmaGO

SmaGO is an IoT smart trash bin developed by Forcetec with environmental sustainability in mind. Powered by solar energy, it automatically compacts waste to approximately one-fifth of its original volume and uses communication functions to notify operators of fill levels, significantly improving the efficiency of waste collection operations. Additionally, the exterior wrapping can be freely designed, enabling educational campaigns on waste sorting or cost reduction through sponsorship programs. The installation of SmaGO aligns with six of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

【Examples of Implementation Results】

・Omotesando-Harajuku area, Tokyo: Collection frequency reduced by approximately 70%

・Dotonbori area, Osaka Prefecture: Surrounding littering reduced by approximately 90% (excluding cigarette butts)

What is SmaGO?

◾️ Future Developments

Forcetec will continue to address waste issues in tourist areas and urban centers through collaborations with municipalities, transportation operators, and local enterprises. By evaluating sustainable environmental management models in the Hakone area, the company plans to expand its solutions to other regions.

◾️ About Forcetec

Under the slogan 'The Power of Circulation,' Forcetec aims not to endlessly consume limited natural resources, but to transform technology into a 'circular force' to create a new form of society. This is the company's core value.

Through solutions such as the smart trash bin 'SmaGO' and the AI-powered automatic sorting recycling box 'Weecle,' Forcetec collaborates with like-minded individuals and organizations to realize a sustainable society.

Company Name: Forcetec Inc.

Established: April 15, 2019

Headquarters: Otemachi One Tower, 6F, 1-2-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan

Representative: President & CEO Yohei Takemura

Official Website: https://forcetec.jp

◾️ Inquiries Regarding This Matter

Forcetec Inc. Public Relations

Phone: 03-3453-7140

Contact Form: https://smago.jp/contact/