A　new　microwave　(MW)　assisted　chelation-alkaline　strategy　was　developed　to　produce　hierarchical　ZSM-5　zeolites　(with　external　surface　area　of　203　m2/g)　in　minutes,　leading　to　the　formation　of　heterogeneous　structure　with　a　high-silica　shell　and　aluminium-rich　core　(silicon-to-aluminium　ratios　of　49.2　and　37.6,　respectively).　The　zeolites　were　assessed　comparatively　by　catalytic　pyrolysis　of　high-density　polyethylene　(HDPE).　Compared　to　the　mesoporous　ZSM-5　zeolite　prepared　by　the　conventional　alkaline　treatment　(via　desilication　by　the　NaOH　aqueous　solution),　the　hierarchical　zeolite　by　the　MW-assisted　method　showed　comparable　kinetics　in　catalytic　pyrolysis　of　HDPE,　but　with　the　improved　stability　in　the　cyclic　pyrolysis-regeneration　tests.　The　improved　stability　could　be　due　to　the　better-preserved　structural　integrity　thanks　to　the　relatively　milder　surface　etching　by　the　MW-assisted　chelation　dealumination　method.　In　addition,　compared　to　the　parent　ZSM-5,　the　product　distribution　of　HDPE　catalytic　pyrolysis　over　the　hierarchical　ZSM-5　zeolite　showed　a　higher　portion　of　oil　products　(i.e.,　12　wt%　vs.　6.9　wt%)　and　an　improved　alkane-to-olefin　ratio　in　the　oil　products　(2.22　vs.　1.86,　respectively)　due　to　the　reduced　acidity　and　improved　hydrogen　transfer　ability.　The　MW-assisted　chelation-alkaline　treatment　could　be　a　new　strategy　to　regulate　the　trade-off　between　stability　and　activity　of　zeolites　for　catalytic　applications.　©　2024　The　Author(s)