CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 571,892		$ 682,885	$ 1,769,415	$ 2,059,928
Product revenues	184,891		172,979	510,278	450,082
Total revenues	756,783		855,864	2,279,693	2,510,010
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	453,304		545,008	1,406,727	1,643,202
Cost of products sold	126,683		126,395	351,707	305,833
Selling, general and administrative expenses	121,856		129,006	376,653	407,957
Research and development expenses	2,162		1,577	6,908	4,290
Other expenses	2,383		3,050	65,351	4,431
Total costs and expenses	706,388		805,036	2,207,346	2,365,713
Operating income from continuing operations	50,395		50,828	72,347	144,297
Interest income	1,449		683	3,005	2,022
Interest expense	(11,609)		(12,230)	(36,041)	(36,809)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	40,235		39,281	39,311	109,510
Income tax expense	(13,545)		(7,078)	(28,489)	(24,813)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	182		194	479	530
Income from continuing operations	26,872		32,397	11,301	85,227
Discontinued operations:
Loss on disposal of discontinued business	(52)		(636)	(1,217)	(2,708)
Income tax benefit related to discontinued business	248		229	685	1,018
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	196		(407)	(532)	(1,690)
Net income	27,068		31,990	10,769	83,537
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(664)		(190)	(1,023)	(2,579)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	26,404		31,800	9,746	80,958
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	26,208		32,207	10,278	82,648
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	196		(407)	(532)	(1,690)
Net income attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ 26,404		$ 31,800	$ 9,746	$ 80,958
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	80,659		80,767	80,623	80,737
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.32		$ 0.40	$ 0.13	$ 1.02
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00		$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)
Basic earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ 0.33	[1]	$ 0.39	$ 0.12	$ 1.00
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	80,910		81,037	80,863	80,997
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.32		$ 0.40	$ 0.13	$ 1.02
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00		$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ 0.33	[1]	$ 0.39	$ 0.12	$ 1.00
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.205		$ 0.205	$ 0.615	$ 0.615

[1] (a) Does not total due to rounding