Cambridgeshire County Council admits stopping the practice was the wrong move.
Chemical weed killing was paused in 2023 to save money and cut harmful emissions.
The authority vowed to only physically remove weeds if they "presented a hazard or nuisance" to people.
It claimed the change would save £120,000 a year, would reduce its carbon footprint, and would reduce the use of "potentially harmful chemicals".
However, a review found the shift was not delivering the benefits hoped for.
Savings were lower than expected, with more money now needed to clear weeds that had built up, and emissions had not been significantly cut, because of the need for staff to travel more frequently to remove the weeds physically.
The council is now planning to reintroduce chemical weed killing in built up areas, at least twice a year.
However, it has said those that do not want weeds to be sprayed can come forward with an alternative plan to remove weeds themselves.
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