The state government introduced a bill to parliament on Wednesday to ban the bags from retail outlets including supermarkets, fashion boutiques, fast-food outlets, convenience stores and service stations from November.

"Victorians use more than a billion of these bags each and every year; more than 10 million of these end up as litter in our environment," Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio told reporters.

"We know that that's not good enough."

Ms D'Ambrosio said a number of retailers had in fact already implemented alternatives for consumers.

The ban follows community consultation and was flagged by the government in June last year.

Bags used for fruit, vegetables and meat as well as thicker garbage bags will be exempt and customers will still be able to buy heavier plastic bags.

An education campaign will run to help Victorians understand the laws and alternatives.

The bill must have crossbench support to pass the upper house.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien says he wants to see a cost-benefit analysis of the laws.

"It's fine to say get rid of plastic but what are you going to replace it with?" he asked.

"People need to have alternatives."

The Greens' welcomed the proposed ban but called on the government to do the same with other single-use plastics, such as cutlery, and to introduce a container deposit scheme.

Major supermarkets have been phasing out single-use plastic bags.

Woolworths says it has handed out about about three billion fewer plastic bags across the country over the past year.

Australian Associated Press