Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas

Countries with revenues from unaffiliated customers or net property, plant and equipment of ten percent or more of the consolidated totals (in at least one period presented) are as follows:

Information by Geographic Area (a)

	Revenues from Unaffiliated Customers
	Year Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2019		2018		2017
U.S.	$	640,390	$	458,383	$	423,888
U.K.	144,689		143,346		146,624
All Other	718,663		745,943		736,958
Totals including Corporate	$	1,503,742	$	1,347,672	$	1,307,470

(a)

Revenues are attributed to individual countries based on the location of the facility generating the revenue.

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

	Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
	Balances at December 31
(In thousands)	2019		2018		2017
U.S.	$	193,692	$	98,851	$	86,266
China	99,369		89,502		95,562
Brazil	37,047		36,960		54,704
All Other	231,678		207,480		208,151
Totals including Corporate	$	561,786	$	432,793	$	444,683

Schedule of Segment Operating Information by Segment

Operating Information by Segment:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Revenues
Harsco Environmental	$	1,034,847		$	1,068,304		$	1,011,328
Harsco Clean Earth	169,522			—			—
Harsco Rail	299,373			279,294			295,999
Corporate	—			74			143
Total Revenues	$	1,503,742		$	1,347,672		$	1,307,470
Operating Income (Loss)
Harsco Environmental	$	112,298		$	121,195		$	102,362
Harsco Clean Earth	20,009			—			—
Harsco Rail	23,708			37,341			32,953
Corporate	(51,736		)	(27,841		)	(30,660		)
Total Operating Income	$	104,279		$	130,695		$	104,655

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2019		2018		2017
Total Assets
Harsco Environmental	$	1,296,061	$	1,230,152	$	1,184,280
Harsco Clean Earth	745,410		—		—
Harsco Rail	246,377		186,049		237,135
Corporate	26,037		53,342		43,860
Discontinued Operations	53,582		163,324		113,410
Total Assets	$	2,367,467	$	1,632,867	$	1,578,685
Depreciation and Amortization
Harsco Environmental	$	112,126	$	115,059	$	112,329
Harsco Clean Earth	12,855		—		—
Harsco Rail	4,875		4,287		4,221
Corporate	5,238		5,710		6,027
Total Depreciation and Amortization	$	135,094	$	125,056	$	122,577
Capital Expenditures
Harsco Environmental	$	153,694	$	114,142	$	87,526
Harsco Clean Earth	5,870		—		—
Harsco Rail	15,274		9,152		2,403
Corporate	1,762		1,313		1,490
Total Capital Expenditures	$	176,600	$	124,607	$	91,419

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated

Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidated Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Income:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Segment operating income	$	156,015		$	158,536		$	135,315
General Corporate expense	(51,736		)	(27,841		)	(30,660		)
Operating income from continuing operations	104,279			130,695			104,655
Interest income	1,975			2,155			2,469
Interest expense	(36,586		)	(21,531		)	(26,862		)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	(5,493		)	3,457			(2,595		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(7,704		)	(1,127		)	(2,265		)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	$	56,471		$	113,649		$	75,402