The government has published plans to prevent councils in England fining householders who break minor bin collection rules.
It wants an end to fines for offences such as putting waste in the wrong bins or putting bins out on the wrong day.
BBC local government correspondent Mike Sergeant says ministers think the fines - of up to £1,000 - have been used to "punish innocent mistakes".
But local authorities have said fines are only ever used as a "last resort".
They say "only a tiny minority of residents leave their rubbish piled in the street".
Government waste strategyAt the moment local authorities can give out fixed penalty notices of up to £110, or push for criminal convictions and a much larger fine.
Our correspondent adds that some environmental groups also think the option of fines can be a useful way to change behaviour and improve recycling rates.
Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth has previously argued that fines should be retained for some persistent offenders.
Plans to outlaw council fines for minor domestic waste offences were flagged-up when the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published the government's waste strategy in June.
The department's work relates to England, with devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland handling their own environmental affairs.
To ensure enforcement targeted people who were deliberately and persistently breaking the law, ministers said they would introduce a "harm to local amenity" test to tackle "neighbours from hell".
The government's waste strategy resulted from a review launched in 2010, which looked at how best to encourage householders, companies and communities to produce less waste and boost recycling.
Have you ever received a rubbish bin fine? What is your reaction to this story? Please send us your comments using the form below: