Review of Operations by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Operations by segment
Revenues	$ 486,914	$ 470,385	$ 1,420,763	$ 1,386,324
Operating income from continuing operations	30,123	26,921	(59,132)	72,304
Interest income	952	544	2,289	1,668
Interest expense	(19,751)	(15,741)	(51,535)	(47,640)
Facility fees and debt-related income (expense)	(2,511)	(198)	(894)	(5,506)
Defined benefit pension income	2,118	3,887	6,775	11,777
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	10,931	15,413	(102,497)	32,603
Depreciation	31,892		97,959	98,383
Depreciation Excluding Industrial Segment		32,246		94,732
Amortization	8,538		25,605	26,554
Amortization, Excluding Discontinued Operations		8,687		26,300
Capital Expenditures	39,392	40,332	100,151	108,178
Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	39,432	37,523	(31,719)	104,245
Operating Segments | Harsco Environmental Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues	264,717	269,901	804,367	800,433
Operating income from continuing operations	22,117	27,630	63,931	83,788
Depreciation	26,772	27,179	82,311	78,446
Amortization	1,619	1,997	5,161	6,080
Capital Expenditures	31,688	34,218	80,063	94,630
Operating Segments | Harsco Clean Earth Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues	222,197	200,484	616,396	585,891
Operating income from continuing operations	17,315	9,893	(95,650)	20,457
Depreciation	4,576	4,576	14,213	14,818
Amortization	6,071	6,033	18,277	18,179
Capital Expenditures	6,331	5,707	16,577	12,962
Corporate
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	(9,309)	(10,602)	(27,413)	(31,941)
Depreciation	544	491	1,435	1,468
Amortization	848	657	2,167	2,041
Capital Expenditures	$ 1,373	$ 407	$ 3,511	$ 586