CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues from continuing operations:
Product revenues	$ 1,863,864	$ 1,503,742		$ 1,347,672
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Selling, general and administrative costs	327,932	252,970		202,713
Research and development expenses	3,246	4,824		3,925
Other expenses	10,794	(2,621)		(2,201)
Total costs and expenses	1,842,783	1,399,463		1,216,977
Operating income from continuing operations	21,081	104,279		130,695
Interest income	2,174	1,975		2,155
Interest expense	(59,689)	(36,586)		(21,531)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	7,229	(5,493)		3,457
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(1,920)	(7,704)		(1,127)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	(31,125)	56,471		113,649
Income tax expense	2,779	(20,214)		(5,499)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	186	273		384
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(28,160)	36,530		108,534
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued businesses	18,281	569,135		0
Income (loss) from discontinued business	(2,745)	27,531		43,942
Income tax expense from discontinued businesses	(9,351)	(120,978)		(7,463)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	6,185	475,688		36,479
Net income (loss)	(21,975)	512,218		145,013
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,366)	(8,299)		(7,956)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	(26,341)	503,919		137,057
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(32,526)	28,231		100,578
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	6,185	475,688		36,479
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ (26,341)	$ 503,919		$ 137,057
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding	78,939	79,632		80,716
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.35		$ 1.25
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.08	5.97		0.45
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.33)	$ 6.33	[1]	$ 1.70
Diluted weighted average shares of stock outstanding	78,939	81,375		83,595
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.35		$ 1.20
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.08	5.85		0.44
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.33)	$ 6.19	[1]	$ 1.64
Services
Revenues from continuing operations:
Product revenues	$ 1,432,290	$ 1,088,627		$ 958,667
Product
Revenues from continuing operations:
Product revenues	431,574	415,115		389,005
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services and products sold	$ 337,028	$ 300,364		$ 264,641

[1] Does not total due to rounding.