CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 249,626	$ 292,209	$ 475,120	$ 579,637
Product revenues	120,307	163,538	248,094	327,689
Total revenues	369,933	455,747	723,214	907,326
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	191,508	243,838	381,325	489,699
Cost of products sold	125,388	116,561	218,632	231,782
Selling, general and administrative expenses	49,520	58,463	100,304	122,365
Research and development expenses	956	1,514	1,838	2,433
Other (income) expenses	1,247	(358)	10,370	(13,563)
Total costs and expenses	368,619	420,018	712,469	832,716
Operating income from continuing operations	1,314	35,729	10,745	74,610
Interest income	552	431	1,087	687
Interest expense	(13,805)	(11,818)	(26,168)	(23,702)
Change in fair value to the unit adjustment liability and loss on dilution of equity method investment	(1,489)	(2,164)	(13,706)	(4,409)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss)	(13,428)	22,178	(28,042)	47,186
Income tax expense	(12,000)	(7,105)	(9,834)	(19,960)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities, net	(694)	(7,584)	2,481	(3,501)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(26,122)	7,489	(35,395)	23,725
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) on disposal of discontinued business	2,886	434	2,380	(212)
Income tax benefit (expense) related to discontinued business	(1,065)	(161)	(878)	78
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,821	273	1,502	(134)
Net income (loss)	(24,301)	7,762	(33,893)	23,591
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,872)	(1,187)	(3,149)	(1,752)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	(26,173)	6,575	(37,042)	21,839
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(27,994)	6,302	(38,544)	21,973
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,821	273	1,502	(134)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	$ (26,173)	$ 6,575	$ (37,042)	$ 21,839
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	80,337	80,221	80,288	80,230
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.08	$ (0.48)	$ 0.27
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.02	0.00	0.02	0.00
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.33)	$ 0.08	$ (0.46)	$ 0.27
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,337	80,418	80,288	80,385
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.08	$ (0.48)	$ 0.27
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.02	0.00	0.02	0.00
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	(0.33)	0.08	(0.46)	0.27
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.205	$ 0	$ 0.41