Polyethylene wastes (low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene and their binary blends) were subjected to high-energy radiation, using a 60Co gamma radiation source. The crosslinked materials thus obtained were processed to heatshrinkable films. Tensile strength could be sharply improved by increasing the dose up to 20 Mrad, simultaneously increasing the elongation at break of the most degraded PE waste. An increase of the degree of compatibility of LDPE and HDPE waste was also observed. All samples examined exhibit a “memory effect” after drawing at 130°C and cooling under tension followed by further heating under relaxed conditions. The value of shrinkage depended on the degree …