Students listed methods to help conserve the world's copper supply. Which method might actually increase copper mining instead?

Question

Responses
A a plan to collect copper bound for landfills and recycling it insteada plan to collect copper bound for landfills and recycling it instead
B the development of a cheaper and more efficient way to mine for copperthe development of a cheaper and more efficient way to mine for copper
C development of a material that could serve as a substitute for copper wiringdevelopment of a material that could serve as a substitute for copper wiring
D the use of other metals to replace the copper normally found in electric motors

Answer 1

The method that might actually increase copper mining instead is:

B. the development of a cheaper and more efficient way to mine for copper.

This is because if mining for copper becomes cheaper and more efficient, it could potentially incentivize more mining activities, leading to an increase in copper extraction from the earth. The other options focus on recycling, substitution, or replacement, which would generally contribute to conserving the existing copper supply rather than increasing mining.