Final answer:
To reduce the harm from mining operations, individuals can promote reuse and recycling, support alternative energy sources, and advocate for stronger environmental regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The single greatest thing the average person can do to reduce the harmful effects of mining operations is to support practices that decrease the demand for new material extraction, notably promoting the use of alternative energy sources, reuse, and recycling. This would lessen the environmental impact of mining by reducing the need for raw materials, thus decreasing the inclination to expand or open new mines which could potentially harm ecosystems and local communities.
Increasing awareness and education about the consequences of mining can also play a significant role in bringing about policy changes and corporate responsibility. Advocating for more stringent environmental regulations and supporting technologies that don't produce significant pollution, like those that don't emit carbon dioxide, can dramatically decrease the detrimental impacts of mining operations on both a local and global scale.