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More than 15 billion batteries are thrown away each year, and due to the chemicals inside, they can be difficult to be recycled.

Researchers from Sweden have developed a green alternative that can not only be recycled more safely and cheaply - it also performs 'at a similar level' to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

And, because it uses organic, biomaterials, it can be repurposed to create a new battery, which has up to 99 per cent of the energy output as the original.

The battery, developed by researchers from Uppsala University, uses biomaterials alfalfa and pine resin (pictured) in place of toxic chemicals. It is said to have an energy content similar to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The components can also be recycled using ethanol and water

Extractable lithium, used in lithium-ion batteries (pictured), is limited and is difficult to recover from the inorganic materials in modern batteries

'We think our discovery can open several doors to more environment-friendly, energy-efficient solutions for the batteries of the future,' said Daniel Brandell, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, one of the researchers behind the idea.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage because they have a high energy content.

But, extractable lithium resources are limited.

It is also difficult to recover lithium from the inorganic materials used to make modern batteries.

Lithium batteries also contain other, even rarer materials, that are hard to replace, and require large energy inputs and toxic chemicals to be recovered.

In their latest study, researchers at Uppsala University's Ångström Laboratory developed the new battery concept using compounds from alfalfa - from lucerne seeds - and pine resin.

These materials can be recycled with non-hazardous chemicals, too, such as ethanol and water.

There are currently batteries that contain non-renewable inorganic materials, and while this is not the first time batteries composed of renewable materials have been made, the recycling and recovery strategy is new.

The scientists also discovered that the lithium extracted from a spent battery can be used for a new battery, when mixed with more biomaterial, such as lucerne seeds (stock image). During tests, this recycled battery was able to produce as much as 99 per cent of the energy output as the first

The scientists also discovered that the lithium extracted from a spent battery can be used for a new battery, when mixed with extra biomaterial.

This recycled battery was able to produce as much as 99 per cent of the energy output as the first.

Professor Brandell added: 'The use of organic materials from renewable sources makes it possible to solve several of the problems that would arise from a huge rise in the use of lithium batteries.

'But above all, it's a major step forward that, to a high degree and in a simple, environment-friendly way, the lithium from these batteries can be recovered. 

'These solutions are also potentially very cost-effective.'

The research team also included Professor Kristina Edström, who heads battery research at Uppsala University, and researcher Stéven Renault.