Revenue Recognition (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

Summary of revenues by primary geographical markets

A summary of the Company's revenues by primary geographical markets as well as by key product and service groups is as follows:

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31, 2020
(In thousands)	Harsco Environmental Segment		Harsco Clean Earth Segment		Harsco Rail Segment		Corporate		Consolidated Totals
Primary Geographical Markets (a)(b):
North America	$	249,904	$	619,588	$	217,638	$	—	$	1,087,130
Western Europe	377,066		—		78,549		—		455,615
Latin America (c)	119,457		—		7,098		—		126,555
Asia-Pacific	87,608		—		26,546		—		114,154
Middle East and Africa	63,427		—		—		—		63,427
Eastern Europe	16,983		—		—		—		16,983
Total Revenues	$	914,445	$	619,588	$	329,831	$	—	$	1,863,864
Key Product and Service Groups (a):
Environmental services related to resource recovery for metals manufacturing; and related logistical services	$	781,060	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	781,060
Applied products	120,432		—		—		—		120,432
Environmental systems for aluminum dross and scrap processing	12,953		—		—		—		12,953
Railway track maintenance equipment	—		—		184,076		—		184,076
After-market parts and services; safety and diagnostic technology	—		—		116,600		—		116,600
Railway contracting services	—		—		29,155		—		29,155
Waste processing and reuse solutions	—		619,588		—		—		619,588
Total Revenues	$	914,445	$	619,588	$	329,831	$	—	$	1,863,864

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31, 2019
(In thousands)	Harsco Environmental Segment		Harsco Clean Earth Segment		Harsco Rail Segment		Corporate		Consolidated Totals
Primary Geographical Markets (a)(b):
North America	$	294,367	$	169,522	$	221,724	$	—	$	685,613
Western Europe	386,593		—		44,569		—		431,162
Latin America (c)	146,040		—		2,588		—		148,628
Asia-Pacific	128,949		—		30,492		—		159,441
Middle East and Africa	60,402		—		—		—		60,402
Eastern Europe	18,496		—		—		—		18,496
Total Revenues	$	1,034,847	$	169,522	$	299,373	$	—	$	1,503,742

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31, 2019
(In thousands)	Harsco Environmental Segment		Harsco Clean Earth Segment		Harsco Rail Segment		Corporate		Consolidated Totals
Key Product and Service Groups (a):
Environmental services related to resource recovery for metals manufacturing; and related logistical services	$	888,850	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	888,850
Applied products	127,875		—		—		—		127,875
Environmental systems for aluminum dross and scrap processing	18,122		—		—		—		18,122
Railway track maintenance equipment	—		—		145,968		—		145,968
After-market parts and services; safety and diagnostic technology	—		—		132,249		—		132,249
Railway contracting services	—		—		21,156		—		21,156
Waste processing and reuse solutions	—		169,522		—		—		169,522
Total Revenues	$	1,034,847	$	169,522	$	299,373	$	—	$	1,503,742

	Twelve Months Ended
	December 31, 2018
(In thousands)	Harsco Environmental Segment		Harsco Clean Earth Segment		Harsco Rail Segment		Corporate		Consolidated Totals
Primary Geographical Markets (b):
North America	$	302,238	$	—	$	205,212	$	74	$	507,524
Western Europe	390,840		—		48,016		—		438,856
Latin America (c)	151,886		—		3,977		—		155,863
Asia-Pacific	145,761		—		22,089		—		167,850
Middle East and Africa	50,003		—		—		—		50,003
Eastern Europe	27,576		—		—		—		27,576
Total Revenues	$	1,068,304	$	—	$	279,294	$	74	$	1,347,672
Key Product and Service Groups:
Environmental services related to resource recovery for metals manufacturing; and related logistical services	$	927,969	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	927,969
Applied products	128,488		—		—		—		128,488
Environmental systems for aluminum dross and scrap processing	11,847		—		—		—		11,847
Railway track maintenance equipment	—		—		112,547		—		112,547
After-market parts and services; safety and diagnostic technology	—		—		139,020		—		139,020
Railway contracting services	—		—		27,727		—		27,727
General Corporate	—		—		—		74		74
Total Revenues	$	1,068,304	$	—	$	279,294	$	74	$	1,347,672

(a)     The Company acquired ESOL in 2020 and Clean Earth in 2019. The results of both are included in the Harsco Clean Earth Segment. The operating results of the former Harsco Industrial Segment have been reflected as discontinued operations in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 3, Acquisition and Dispositions, for additional details.

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

(c)    Includes Mexico.