Restructuring Programs (Details) (Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment, Harsco Metals & Minerals Improvement Plan (Project Orion), USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual at December 31 2014	$ 7,668,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Cash Expenditures	(1,590,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
Foreign Currency Translation	(120,000)
Accrual at March 31 2015	5,958,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Other Restructuring
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Compensation savings, annualized basis	37,000,000
Employee Termination Benefit Costs
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual at December 31 2014	7,668,000
Cash Expenditures	(1,590,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	(120,000)
Accrual at March 31 2015	$ 5,958,000

Effect of Future Earnings, Annualized Basis

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of cash payments made as the result of exit or disposal activities. Excludes payments associated with a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation adjustment increasing or decreasing the accrual for a specified type of restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

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