Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

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
	Twelve Months Ended December 31
(In thousands)	2020		2019		2018
U.S.	$	1,048,059	$	640,390	$	458,383
U.K.	138,447		144,689		143,346
All Other	677,358		718,663		745,943
Totals including Corporate	$	1,863,864	$	1,503,742	$	1,347,672

(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
	December 31
(In thousands)	2020		2019		2018
U.S.	$	286,933	$	193,692	$	98,851
China	109,660		99,369		89,502
All Other	271,616		268,725		244,440
Totals including Corporate	$	668,209	$	561,786	$	432,793

Schedule of Segment Operating Information by Segment

Operating Information by Segment:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2020		2019		2018
Revenues (b)
Harsco Environmental	$	914,445	$	1,034,847	$	1,068,304
Harsco Clean Earth	619,588		169,522		—
Harsco Rail	329,831		299,373		279,294
Corporate	—		—		74
Total Revenues	$	1,863,864	$	1,503,742	$	1,347,672
Operating Income (Loss) (b)
Harsco Environmental	$	59,006	$	112,298	$	121,195
Harsco Clean Earth	16,096		20,009		—
Harsco Rail	20,219		23,708		37,341
Corporate	(74,240)		(51,736)		(27,841)
Total Operating Income	$	21,081	$	104,279	$	130,695

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2020		2019		2018
Total Assets
Harsco Environmental	$	1,322,731	$	1,296,061	$	1,230,152
Harsco Clean Earth	1,279,387		745,410		—
Harsco Rail	334,191		246,377		186,049
Corporate	56,978		26,037		53,342
Discontinued Operations	—		53,582		163,324
Total Assets	$	2,993,287	$	2,367,467	$	1,632,867
Depreciation (b)
Harsco Environmental	$	100,971	$	104,840	$	109,494
Harsco Clean Earth	17,450		4,932		—
Harsco Rail	5,113		4,554		3,981
Corporate	2,022		2,737		2,737
Total Depreciation	$	125,556	$	117,063	$	116,212
Amortization (b)
Harsco Environmental	$	7,825	$	7,286	$	5,565
Harsco Clean Earth	22,814		7,923		—
Harsco Rail	337		322		306
Corporate (c)	2,961		2,500		2,973
Total Amortization	$	33,937	$	18,031	$	8,844
Capital Expenditures (b)
Harsco Environmental	$	99,056	$	153,694	$	114,142
Harsco Clean Earth	12,612		5,870		—
Harsco Rail	7,962		15,274		9,152
Corporate	488		1,762		1,313
Total Capital Expenditures	$	120,118	$	176,600	$	124,607

(b) The Company's acquisition of ESOL closed on April 6, 2020 and the Company's acquisition of Clean Earth closed on June 28, 2019. The operating results of the former Harsco Industrial Segment have been reflected as discontinued operations in the Company's Condensed Statement of Operations for all periods presented. See Note 3, Acquisitions and Dispositions, for additional details.

(c) Amortization expense on Corporate relates to the amortization of deferred financing costs.

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated

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

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31
(In thousands)	2020		2019		2018
Segment operating income	$	95,321	$	156,015	$	158,536
General Corporate expense	(74,240)		(51,736)		(27,841)
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