Plastic bags could be banned in Vic

Proposed laws that would restrict the sale and supply of plastic bags in Victoria will be discussed at a public hearing in Melbourne.

A public hearing will discuss proposed laws that would restrict single-use plastic bags in Victoria. (AAP)

Victoria needs to acknowledge it has a plastic litter problem and get on with solving it, environmental groups say.

A proposed bill, put forward by Greens MP Nina Springle, seeks to restrict the supply and sale of plastic bags and plastic and polystyrene packaging, and would prohibit the supply and sale of plastic microbeads.

Boomerang Alliance director Jeff Angel, representing 45 national and state groups, said despite the Victorian government agreeing to ban plastic bags in 2007 nothing has been done.

"Successive governments have denied the state has a problem and relied on weak voluntary policies," Mr Angel said on Thursday.

"Since 2007 ... some 250 million (plastic bags) have been littered and potentially polluted the marine environment."

Plastic Bags Free Victoria says plastic bags are the fifth most littered item in Victoria and break down into smaller pieces - never leaving the ecosystem.

Victoria is one of the last states to enact legislation to limit the spread of supermarket plastic bags.

South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory already have bans in place and Queensland will introduce a ban on single-use plastic bags from 2018.