CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 292,209	$ 361,966	$ 579,637	$ 712,760
Product revenues	163,538	173,378	327,689	335,067
Total revenues	455,747	535,344	907,326	1,047,827
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	243,838	296,532	489,699	590,840
Cost of products sold	116,561	120,657	231,782	236,123
Selling, general and administrative expenses	58,463	77,969	122,365	144,763
Research and development expenses	1,514	1,058	2,433	3,721
Loss on disposal of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment and transaction costs	0	2,918	0	4,599
Other (income) expenses	(358)	27,516	(13,563)	26,860
Total costs and expenses	420,018	526,650	832,716	1,006,906
Operating income from continuing operations	35,729	8,694	74,610	40,921
Interest income	431	410	687	707
Interest expense	(11,818)	(11,958)	(23,702)	(23,379)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability	(2,164)	(2,473)	(4,409)	(5,019)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity loss	22,178	(5,327)	47,186	13,230
Income tax expense	(7,105)	(4,843)	(19,960)	(10,154)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated entities, net	(7,584)	(3,518)	(3,501)	(4,748)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	7,489	(13,688)	23,725	(1,672)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued business	434	1,732	(212)	1,092
Income tax (expense) benefit related to discontinued business	(161)	(642)	78	(405)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	273	1,090	(134)	687
Net income (loss)	7,762	(12,598)	23,591	(985)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,187)	(14)	(1,752)	(1,416)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	6,575	(12,612)	21,839	(2,401)
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	6,302	(13,702)	21,973	(3,088)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	273	1,090	(134)	687
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	$ 6,575	$ (12,612)	$ 21,839	$ (2,401)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	80,221	80,885	80,230	80,850
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ (0.17)	$ 0.27	$ (0.04)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.01
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ (0.16)	$ 0.27	$ (0.03)
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,418	80,885	80,385	80,850
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ (0.17)	$ 0.27	$ (0.04)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.01	0.00	0.01
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.08	(0.16)	0.27	(0.03)
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.205	$ 0.205	$ 0.410	$ 0.41