Revenue Recognition - Summary of Revenues by Primary Geographical Markets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,889,065	$ 1,848,399	$ 1,534,033
Environmental services related to resource recovery for metals manufacturing; and related logistical services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	900,426	920,580	781,060
Applied Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	145,911	132,389	120,432
Aluminum Dross and Scrap Processing Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	14,902	15,114	12,953
Waste Processing and Reuse Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	681,804	639,233	472,631
Soil and dredged material
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	146,022	141,083	146,957
North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,125,370	1,061,441	869,492
Western Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	389,713	442,286	377,066
Latin America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	155,235	132,349	119,457
Asia-Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	119,433	110,790	87,608
Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	79,562	81,337	63,427
Eastern Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	19,752	20,196	16,983
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,061,239	1,068,083	914,445
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Environmental services related to resource recovery for metals manufacturing; and related logistical services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	900,426	920,580	781,060
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Applied Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	145,911	132,389	120,432
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Aluminum Dross and Scrap Processing Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	14,902	15,114	12,953
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Waste Processing and Reuse Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Soil and dredged material
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	297,544	281,125	249,904
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Western Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	389,713	442,286	377,066
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Latin America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	155,235	132,349	119,457
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Asia-Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	119,433	110,790	87,608
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	79,562	81,337	63,427
Harsco Environmental | Operating segments | Eastern Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	19,752	20,196	16,983
Clean Earth | Operating segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	827,826	780,316	619,588
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Environmental services related to resource recovery for metals manufacturing; and related logistical services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Applied Products [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Aluminum Dross and Scrap Processing Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Waste Processing and Reuse Solutions [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	681,804	639,233	472,631
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Soil and dredged material
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	146,022	141,083	146,957
Clean Earth | Operating segments | North America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	827,826	780,316	619,588
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Western Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Latin America
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Asia-Pacific
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Middle East and Africa
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0
Clean Earth | Operating segments | Eastern Europe
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0