Abstract
As a result of the corona shock, there has been a social demand to shift to contactless waste collection. This paper describes prospects for contactless and automated waste collection using examples from overseas as well as the efforts of the author’s research group. Specifically, smart waste bins that feature compressing and a sensing function along with a mobility system with an automatic driving function are presented as examples of the efforts aimed at automation of waste collection. The authors also point out that one of the problems in Japan’s smart cities is a lack of initiatives related to flow, including waste collection. It will be essential to accumulate all efforts for contactless/automated waste collection with a medium- to long-term perspective as a means of networking toward a decarbonized society.
