CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenues from continuing operations:
Product revenues	$ 1,889,065	$ 1,848,399	$ 1,534,033
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of sales	1,553,335	1,490,556	1,242,291
Selling, general and administrative costs	268,066	272,233	284,442
Research and development expenses	690	956	534
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges	119,580	0	0
Other expenses	4,737	(3,722)	10,072
Total costs and expenses	1,946,408	1,760,023	1,537,339
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	(57,343)	88,376	(3,306)
Interest income	3,559	2,231	2,129
Interest expense	(75,156)	(63,235)	(58,196)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	8,938	15,640	7,073
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(2,956)	(5,506)	(1,920)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	(122,958)	37,506	(54,220)
Income tax expense	(10,381)	(9,089)	8,673
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated entities, net	(178)	(302)	186
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(133,517)	28,115	(45,361)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued businesses	0	0	18,281
Income (loss) from discontinued businesses	(50,301)	(25,863)	20,350
Income tax benefit (expense) from discontinued businesses	7,387	477	(15,245)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(42,914)	(25,386)	23,386
Net income (loss)	(176,431)	2,729	(21,975)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,638)	(5,978)	(4,366)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	(180,069)	(3,249)	(26,341)
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(137,155)	22,137	(49,727)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(42,914)	(25,386)	23,386
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ (180,069)	$ (3,249)	$ (26,341)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding	79,493	79,234	78,939
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (1.73)	$ 0.28	$ (0.63)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.54)	(0.32)	0.30
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (2.27)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.33)
Diluted weighted average shares of stock outstanding	79,493	80,289	78,939
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (1.73)	$ 0.28	$ (0.63)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.54)	(0.32)	0.30
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (2.27)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.33)