Kitchen microwaves across the European Union generate as much greenhouse gas as nearly seven million cars, it is claimed. Scientists arrived at the figure after studying the broad environmental impact of microwaves, taking account of their manufacture, use, and end-of-life disposal. Sales of microwave ovens in the EU are set to reach nearly 135 million per year by 2020. The University of Manchester team found that:- Microwave ovens generate 7.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year in the EU, equivalent to the annual emissions of 6.8 million cars. The main environmental "hot spots" linked to microwaves included manufacturing materials, the manufacturing process, and end-of-life waste management.

Source: Evening echo January 18, 2018 17:26 UTC