Silent Engineers of Sustainability

Figure 1: Earthworms improving soil structure through burrowing and nutrient cycling.

Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service (Public Domain)

Introduction

“Silent Engineers?” You’d ask because that sounds unreal knowing how noisy engineering activities could be. Is it the mixing of concrete or the operations of construction machines? Engineers are not silent but these ones are and are very close to you than you can imagine.

They are underground engineers that are otherwise known as ultimate recyclers. They don’t use construction machines or props to work underground; they are earthworms.

They perform a process known as vermicompost which involves the breaking down of organic waste into nutrients for plants, the aeration of soil as they “worm” their way in the soil, creating “lungs” for the earth to breathe and water to reach the roots of plants.

Now, while these silent creatures operate in the soil, there exist also some real-life silent engineers that aren’t worms but humans like you and I. They are the Plogging Stewards that handle the synthetic waste (plastics, cans, wrappers) above the earth that the earth cannot digest itself. These real-life stewards prevent toxins from leaching into the ground or clogging the drainage systems and hence improve the sustainability of the earth.

These engineers are not creepy; they are just some silent stewards making life livable for you and I.

Figure 2: Vermicomposting and soil enrichment through earthworm activity.

Source: University of Illinois Extension

What Make Earthworms Stand Out?

Earthworms are among the most important and abundant soil invertebrates found in ecosystems across temperate and tropical regions of the world. With about 3,000 species spread globally, earthworms are considered a keystone species in Asia and Europe because they balance their ecosystem (Kooch et al., 2025). As detritivores, they feed on dead plants and organic matter and hence recycle nutrients, returning them to the soil and making it richer and more fertile. They aid the root development of plants through their burrowing activities.

Farmers and gardeners often value earthworms because their presence usually indicates healthy, productive soil (MSU Extension, 2012; Schon et al., 2023). When earthworms were introduced to parts of North America, they began actively breaking down thick layers of decaying leaves and organic material (Great Lakes Worm Watch, n.d.; Frelich et al., 2006). This sped up nutrient cycling and changed how some forests functioned. While these changes affected certain native plant species that were adapted to thick forest floors, earthworms were simply performing their natural role improving soil mixing and nutrient movement (Craven et al., 2017). Their ability to reproduce efficiently allows them to spread and quickly establish healthy soil systems. Now, here is the amazing part, earthworms activities are estimated to contribute about 6.5% of global grain production and 2.3% of legume production by enhancing soil nutrient availability and productivity (Fonte, Hsieh & Mueller, 2023). It is also found that they can interact with pollutants and soil contaminants such as heavy metals and microplastics to support soil remediation processes (Tagliabue et al., 2023).

We can now see that rather than being seen as invasive, earthworms are natural soil engineers/organisms that work quietly beneath our feet to support plant growth and soil fertility.

Figure 3: Ploggas after a Plogging Episode.

Source: Plogging Nigeria Instagram page.

Who Are the Real-life Silent Engineers?

Have you heard of Plogging before? The word “Plogging,” a portmanteau of “jogging” and the Swedish plocka upp, means to pick up and is the human equivalent of the earthworm’s work.

They actively remove plastic and solid waste from streets, parks and waterways, reducing pollution and preventing blockage of drainage systems. Their plogging activities create visible environmental action that inspires behavioral change. Media reports have shown that organized plogging initiatives have increased youth participation in environmental sanitation campaigns (BusinessDay Nigeria, 2024; EnviroNews Nigeria, 2025).

While these silent engineers remove waste, they reduce breeding grounds for disease vectors such as mosquitoes and rodents, thereby contributing to community health protection. Thus, plogging stewards act as human equivalents of ecological engineers who restore environmental balance through consistent grassroots action.

On the 2nd of June, 2018, Plogging Nigeria was launched at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State and championed by Mayokun Iyaomolere. Since then, so many sustainable activities had been done. With over 950 Plogging Episodes (PES) and more than 100 Cleanup Events conducted across Nigerian higher institutions and states, more than 50 tonnes of recyclables have been recovered while covering more than 2150 kilometres. These plogging stewards which include more than 2000 Ploggas (Volunteers) are modern environmental actors who combine jogging with waste collection and like earthworms, they work quietly, consistently and often without public recognition—Silent Engineers.

What Happens If These Silent Engineers Go On Strike for 6 to 12 Months?

To understand the danger of silence, let us imagine what happens when the work stops. Beneath the soil, if earthworms disappear for just six to twelve months, the soil compacts, water no longer penetrates, erosion accelerates, crops begin to fail, and the underground ecosystem collapses quietly.

The same goes for our communities; if Plogging Stewards stop, waste piles up, drainage channels clog, floods become more frequent, and public health risks rise. Streets lose their livability, and the very systems we depend on begin to fail.

When you put off a fan, it does not stop rotating immediately, it is gradual. That is exactly what happens when earthworms stop working beneath the soil and when Plogging Stewards stop their quiet labour in our communities. The collapse isn’t loud, it is gradual, invisible, and costly.

So, the real question is not whether these Silent Stewards are important. The real question is, “How do we recognize and support them before we realise the fan is off?”

Below are few ways to actionably support them:

State-wide plogging events should be organized, especially around global environmental days and there should be official recognition like certificates, awards and media features to honor volunteers and increase visibility.
Plogging activities should be embedded into school and university service-learning curricula and environmental clubs to build long-term stewardship habits among youth.
Data like total waste collected, number of volunteers and community impact should be published on social media, newsletters and official reports to increase transparency and recognition.

Conclusion

Let’s face it! Earthworms are not just silent stewards, they are soil saviours and are in the sustainable spots more than most of us. So, the next time you see that slimy beauty on the surface of the soil, do not hurriedly add salt on them, watching them struggle to death or feed them to your chicken. They are one of the reasons more spoonful of grains get on your plate and you can help them by becoming the real-life stewards on the soil surface, ensuring nothing toxic from the top seeps into the soil and cause their demise or hinder their hard work—join an eco-friendly organization (like Plogging Nigeria) that is in your area and become a silent steward (engineer) who daily live, move and enjoy being in the sustainable spot.

AUTHORS

Green Switch Academy (GSA) (XXXII) – Silent Stewards

Green Switch Academy Group (GSAG): Earthworms

Green Switch Academy Master (GSAM): Gift Ifokwe

GSAG MEMBERS: