If more copper was recycled we would need fewer copper mines.
Copper is one of the most recycled of all metals. In 1997, 37% of copper consumption came from recycled copper.
Copper-based products have a wide variety of life spans (from a few years in electronic devices, to over a 100 years in architectural uses.
Assuming an average life span of 30 years for most products, copper's truer recycling rate would be 85%.
Virtually all products made from copper can be recycled. Industry uses recycled copper (also known as secondary copper) as a major source of raw material. In some instances, recycled copper can be remelted and directly used without any further processing. In effect, copper can be considered as renewable since it can be recycled over and over again without losing any of its chemical or physical properties.
Some countries' copper requirements greatly depend on recycled copper to meet internal demands. However, recycled copper alone cannot meet society's needs, so we also rely on copper produced from the processing of mineral ores.
Recycling is dependent on the efficiency of the scrap collection system, technological and economic factors, product design, societal values, as well as on the incentives and barriers introduced by society, including governments.
Recycling is an important economic activity with significant environmental benefits. Not only does recycling copper result in more efficient use of natural resources, but it also results in energy savings and a reduction in material sent for final disposal, such as to a land fill.
Copper and copper-based materials, whether in a raw state or contained in a finished product, can be recycled at all stages of a product's life cycle.
Cuttings, filings and other excess material produced during the various stages of manufacturing, and products disposed after their useful life, can all be recycled.
Judicious design, use, recycling, and disposal of materials is an integral part of a sustainable society.
Other references are shown below.
http://www.icsg.org/Factbook/copper_world/recycling.htm
http://www.copper.org/environment/trends/consumption_us.html
http://www.copper.org/innovations/1998/06/recycle_overview.html
http://actionrecyclingcenter.com/copper_recycling_0.html
Why do some references suggest that copper recylce rates are high, and other sources show recycle rates as low?
Answer: the comparison of recycle rates between different metals are often presented indifferent manners. For example, tons of one type of metal per year can be compared to tons of a different metal. A better comparison is annual % recycled compared to annual production or use of virgin material.