Anti-solarium campaigners have welcomed a New South Wales Government buy-back scheme which aims to take all sun beds out of operation by the end of next year.

The Government has launched the scheme ahead of a state-wide ban that comes into effect from December 2014.

Tanning salons in the state will be offered a rebate of $1,000 for each bed, with no cap on the number of beds they are allowed to return.

The buy-back is aimed at preventing tanning businesses moving onto the black market once the ban comes into force.

More than 200 tanning beds are currently in use across the state.

Environment Minister Robyn Parker says sun beds bought back under the scheme will be destroyed.

"The buy-back of solaria is taking them out of the system altogether," Ms Parker said.

"After December 2014 there will be penalties for the illegal operation of solaria.

"We want to take them out of the system so that no-one has solaria because they are so dangerous."

Melanoma sufferer and anti-solarium campaigner Jay Allen supports the rebate, saying too many young people, ignorant of the risks, have fallen prey to solariums.

The Cancer Council says young people who use the tanning beds have a double risk of developing melanoma.

"You're young, you think you're invincible and it's not until you get in your 20s or 30s and you settle down and you've got a family, you've just bought your house and that's when melanoma could strike and that's what you don't want," he said.

"Those people that have been lost, they wish they could go back in time and have not used a solarium."

Anyone caught operating tanning beds once the ban takes effect will face fines of up to $44,000.

New South Wales will be the first Australian state and the second jurisdiction in the world to ban solariums.