1. Project Overview
This project aimed to utilize vending machines and recycling bins in Shibuya as urban assets to advance smart city development and improve the urban environment. It also supported startup companies possessing innovative ideas and technologies in the field of Smart Cities × SDGs.
2. Background and Challenges
Japan, and Shibuya in particular, boasts a massive number of vending machines. For smart city development, it is practical to leverage such existing resources to achieve urban optimization.
In a different issue, recycling bins are experiencing secondary problems such as the contamination of bins with non-recyclable waste, deterioration of the streetscape, and crow damage.
Therefore, we aim to utilize the vending machine network and recycling bins as new entry points for urban services. By combining this with Shibuya's startup culture, we seek to create an urban model that can spread nationwide.
3. Implementation
The test publicly invited applications from startup companies capable of utilizing ICT and other technologies via vending machines and recycling bins in Shibuya's streets, as well as optimizing recycling bins (e.g., through AI sorting). Two companies were selected. They installed recycling bins for automatic waste sorting and AI cameras attached to vending machines to analyze abandoned bicycles and bicycle parking areas.
4. Findings and Implications
The results of the demonstration revealed that the Shibuya-originated smart city model—which addresses urban challenges using existing infrastructure—suggested improvements in waste management and recycling efficiency (through AI-based sorting and user behavior design), alongside measures to tackle abandoned bicycles. Furthermore, it demonstrated a collaborative model involving startups, local government, and large corporations.
