It's definitely an issue. Lots of studies have found that resusable bags are contaminated with bacteria, norovirus, etc.
My county has a tax on bags. I'm not sure how much plastic the ban saves. I used to use the plastic bags from stores as trash bags. That plastic was so flimsy that after a couple of days in the sun it would disintegrate. Now I buy plastic trash bags that are much thicker.
I am old enough to remember what trash day was like before the invention of plastic trash bags.
Talk about an unsanitary germ factory!