The accumulation of plastics in agricultural soil ecosystems is hazardous to terrestrial environments by disrupting soil structure, hindering nutrient cycling, and affecting soil organisms. The effects of waste polyethylene (PE) films on the physical, chemical, and biological qualities of soil, and how its resilience and crop growth capacity were impacted, were investigated. PE waste films were integrated with the soil in proportions reflective of environmentally relevant contamination levels for in situ soil incubation with a test period of four months. Thereafter, a commonly consumed vegetable, lettuce ( Lactuca sativa) was cultivated for four weeks until maturity. The soil with the highest concentration of PE waste film (2 % w w ⁻¹) significantly reduced the shoot height as well as fresh and dry weights. Soil bulk density decreased with increasing PE film concentration whereas the chemical and biological properties remained relatively stable during the incubation period. Although the accumulation of waste PE film in soil did not alter its chemical properties, the results of this study indicated that soil structure was disrupted and plant growth inhibited.