Mecklenburg County officials are urging residents to stop discarding lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling after four fires occurred at local recycling centers and landfills this week.

U.K.-based metal recycler EMR will pay $6.7 million toward improvements to Camden’s Waterfront South neighborhood as a result of a February fire that led to the voluntary evacuation of 100 families.

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to reports of lithium-ion batteries "exploding" and catching fire on the fourth floor of the engineering building at Portland State University.Crews arrived on the scene and began investigating the incident.