(a) All state agencies, departments, and authorities responsible for the maintenance of public lands shall give preference to the use of compost and mulch in all road building, land maintenance, and land development activities. Preference shall be given to compost and mulch made in the State of Georgia from organics which are source separated from the state's nonhazardous solid waste stream.

(b) The Department of Agriculture shall develop and publish standards for the compost and mulch required by subsection (a) of this Code section by January 1, 1994.