Other Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Employee termination benefit costs	$ 4,766	$ 10,249	$ 4,226
Costs to exit activities	663	533	1,166
Impaired asset write-downs	1,005	776	632
Contingent Consideration Adjustments	0	(2,386)	7,681
Other expense	(1,254)	(149)	(234)
Total	(3,722)	10,072	(8,194)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Employee termination benefit costs	1,481	27	1,012
Costs to exit activities	0	29	196
Contingent Consideration Adjustments	0	(2,274)	0
Clean Earth
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Employee termination benefit costs	433	833	1,960
Costs to exit activities	23	0	0
Impaired asset write-downs	63	0	0
Contingent Consideration Adjustments	0	(112)	(825)
Harsco Environmental
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net gains	(8,902)	(3,723)	(6,303)
Employee termination benefit costs	2,852	9,389	1,254
Costs to exit activities	640	504	970
Impaired asset write-downs	942	776	632
Contingent Consideration Adjustments	$ 0	$ 0	$ 8,506