An Australian mining company has been told to "get lost" and "go back to Australia" amid an ongoing row over hundreds of thousands of tonnes of radioactive waste piling up in Malaysia.

Key points:

• Malaysia has renewed the rare earth plant licence of Australian company Lynas
• Green groups say Lynas' activities pose a threat to the local environment
• Lynas says it will meet the licence obligations set by Malaysia's Government

Outside of China, the Australian firm, Lynas, is the world's only major producer of rare earth minerals, which are crucial in the production of high-tech gear including smartphones, laser-guided missiles and electric car batteries.

The ore is dug up at Mount Weld in Western Australia and then shipped to Malaysia, where the cost of processing is significantly lower.

The low-level radioactive waste is a by-product of the enrichment process and Malaysian activists are convinced it poses a threat to local communities.