Review of Operations by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Operations by segment
Revenues	$ 452,797	$ 447,265
Operating income from continuing operations	7,748	19,118
Interest income	644	547
Interest expense	(15,092)	(16,256)
Unused debt commitment fees, amendment fees and loss on extinguishment of debt	(532)	(5,258)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	(2,410)	(3,934)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	(4,822)	2,085
Capital Expenditures	32,452	27,017
Depreciation	33,604	32,748
Depreciation Excluding Industrial Segment		31,537
Amortization	8,586	8,967
Total Amortization		8,882
Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	16,970	29,113
Corporate
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	(9,222)	(9,995)
Capital Expenditures	966	68
Depreciation	431	483
Amortization	683	751
Harsco Environmental Segment | Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Revenues	262,051	257,986
Operating income from continuing operations	18,267	25,935
Capital Expenditures	24,790	24,419
Depreciation	28,072	25,717
Amortization	1,828	2,048
Harsco Clean Earth Segment | Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Revenues	190,746	189,279
Operating income from continuing operations	(1,297)	3,178
Capital Expenditures	6,696	2,530
Depreciation	5,101	5,337
Amortization	$ 6,075	$ 6,083