The government is to remove most of those powers from English councils but town halls will be able to issue fixed-penalty notices of between £75 and £100 to people who allow rubbish to pile up, or those who fly-tip.
Ms Spelman said the government’s emphasis must be on ideas to enable households and businesses to be smarter with their waste.
There will be a ban on wood going to landfill from homes or industry – with it being burned for energy instead – while ministers intend to work with the hospitality industry to try to reduce food waste and with the toy industry to cut excessive packaging.
The Local Government Association, which speaks on behalf of more than 400 councils in England and Wales, welcomed the latter move, saying efforts were needed to reduce such waste “at source”.
“Allowing councils to identify and work with people who misunderstand or make mistakes when sorting their rubbish is important,” it added. “As a last resort councils also need effective, proportionate powers to take action against households or businesses which persistently or wilfully damage the local environment.”