Accounts Receivable and Note Receivable (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020	Apr. 06, 2020	Jan. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable	$ 414,891,000			$ 323,502,000
Accounts Receivable Greater than 12 Months Reserved	2,500,000
Receivable with Imputed Interest, Face Amount			$ 40,000,000.0
Note Receivable; Interest Rate; Stated percentage			2.50%
Receivables, Fair Value Disclosure	36,900,000		$ 34,300,000
ESOL | Clean Earth
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable, net	122,900,000	$ 124,100,000
Greater than 12 months
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable	$ 5,700,000
Harsco Industrial IKG | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration			85,000,000.0
Receivable with Imputed Interest, Face Amount			40,000,000.0
Receivables, Fair Value Disclosure			$ 34,300,000