Currently, in addition to maintaining the initial objectives of the project, work groups have been created in which the Agència de Residus de Catalunya takes part, developing the following subjects:

• A. Definitions of waste and national standards: a group established to show the different interpretations between countries in order to inform the pertinent authorities.
  • A.1. Analysis of PCB: hexane extraction, gas chromatography determination using an electronic detector. Differences have been found in the sampling and drying processes and in the total calculation of PCB.
  • A.2. Definitions of waste: generally adherence to the definition given in the directive (EC) 72/442: a substance abandoned or intended for abandonment. The differences in practice lie in the differentiation between product and waste. It must be said that in many countries the classification is determined case by case.
  • A-3. Comparison between the EWC and OECD codes: lack of reaction by many countries, some wastes have been classified identically (group 08) and others with large differences (group 10).
• B. Green list exportation waste to countries of eastern Europe and other countries not belonging to the OECD: different countries apply the decision of Council 575/94 or the unofficial revisions of 1995 and 1996, which causes differences in the degree of control. The reaction of participating countries must be increased.
• C.Project concerning control in ports: environmental inspectors along with the port authorities perform ship inspections.
• D. Simultaneous transport control: dates are set for controls throughout Europe. The last control was performed in the week of 16th to 22nd June, and a total 16,390 vehicles were stopped, of which 3,079 were carrying waste. The control detected 133 illegal transports and 431 irregularities.
• E. Controls co-ordinated between Catalonia and France: this is intended to intensify co-operation between competent authorities.
• F. Information exchange via electronic mail: a protocol has been developed for using electronic mail as a means of exchanging information.

Participation in the said work groups is passive (contribution of data from each of the countries) or active (recompilation of information received and evaluation of the results obtained). The conclusions drawn from the congresses and the work carried out are set out in reports made among the participants.

It must be said that the results achieved in the TFS project, in addition to providing united criteria among member states of the European Union, allow technical recommendations to be made for the development of environmental policy and specifically with respect to the application of regulations on transfrontier shipment.