Victorian plastics phase-out to be used in NSW by cross border business if there is no change north of Murray River

Victoria announced at the weekend it would follow South Australia and Queensland and outlaw the use of single-use plastics from February 2023.

The NSW government is yet to approve a similar law in its state, with a plastics plan under consideration.

Perry Group director Harry Perry, whose family has three Valentines and two BBB eateries across Albury-Wodonga and Rutherglen, said the changes were a "step in the right direction".

"Being on both sides of the border if there is a change in Victoria we'll be doing at all stores on both sides," Mr Perry said.

"There's no point in having different systems or packaging across different states.

"We would be happy to see NSW just adopt the same changes."

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Albury Coffee Mamma proprietor Matt Sheridan said he would welcome NSW opting to follow the other states, adding consumers had already led the way by cutting straw usage and returning carry trays.

Straw No More board member Kirstin Erlewein, whose daughter Charlie, 8, lobbied Wodonga and Albury councils to have plastics policies, was pleased Victoria had moved.

"Now you've got three states in Australia doing it I think the others will follow suit fairly quickly and if three states do it it would be interesting to see if it becomes a federal issue," she said.

Turtle-owner Charlie was "super excited and dancing around the room" at news of Victoria's step which is aimed at reducing waste.

Meanwhile, on another environment packaging front, the NSW government has agreed to continue special payments to drink sellers within 80 kilometres of the Victorian border who have suffered losses through the state introducing 10-cent deposits on cans and bottles.

Albury MP Justin Clancy said the temporary assistance package would now be extended until 2023.

"This extension, which will be in place until the Victorian Government rolls-out their CDS program, will ensure retailers on our side of the border continue to have access to business advice and funding assistance through to 2023," he said.

Mr Clancy lobbied his Liberal Party colleagues, the small business and environment ministers, to stretch the payments after Victoria announced last February its timeframe for adopting a 10-cent container impost.

East Albury and Springdale Heights IGA supermarket owner Bob Mathews cautiously welcomed the extension but noted any recompense did not cover the losses through selling beer in NSW at Victorian prices.

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