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The government is to make available £250m to encourage local authorities in England to keep or restore weekly bin collections.
Communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles said every household has a "basic right" to have their rubbish collected each week.
The government says only local authorities that guarantee weekly collections for five years and display improvements in recycling and procurement are eligible.
Councils will be able to bid for funding individually or in groups and can include the private sector "where this increases value for money".
At present, more than half of English councils run some form of fortnightly collection.
Pickles said the new initiative offered incentives for both councils and their residents to recycle more.
The Conservatives pledged to restore weekly collections when the party was in opposition.
In June, the coalition came under fire after its Waste Review revealed councils would not have to bring back weekly waste collections.
Labour then accused the government of breaking its pre-election promise to abandon fortnightly bin collections and branded it a "huge missed opportunity".
Speaking ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Pickles said: "What this is about is about giving local councils that choice."
He told Radio 4's Today programme: "They're no longer forced to do this for financial reasons and I think it gives the local council to actually treat the public with respect rather than using the great force of, if you don't do it right the place is going to be smelly, it's going to stink up and it's going to be more unpleasant for you.
"It's saying, well look, if you recycle then you get something back. If you are prepared to cooperate with the council then we will reward you, rather than treating you, to coin a phrase, like rubbish."
The Weekly Collections Support Scheme is expected to begin next April.
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