Equity Method Investments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture [Member] Y	Dec. 31, 2013 Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture [Member] Discounted Cash Flow Approach Valuation Technique [Member]	Sep. 15, 2013 Harsco Infrastructure [Member] Infrastructure Transaction Strategic Venture [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership in Brand						29.00%
Book value of Company's investment in Brand	$ 298,856,000	$ 3,201,000
Total annual payments, pre-tax				22,000,000
Total annual payments, after-tax				15,000,000
Transfer of ownership interest, percentage				2.50%
Investee EBITDA contingency threshold				479,000,000
Number of years after agreement that would terminate Company's quarterly payments contingency threshold				8
In event of an IPO, minimum co-venture interest in partnership that could terminate Company's quarterly payments				20.00%
Liquidation preference				336,000,000
Change in fair value to unit adjustment liability	966,000	0	0
Unit adjustment liability, current and non-current	$ 106,300,000
Fair value unobservable input, WACC rate					9.50%