Review of Operations by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Operations by segment
Revenues	$ 520,168	$ 481,052	$ 1,015,821	$ 933,849
Operating income from continuing operations	24,315	(97,003)	53,320	(89,255)
Interest income	1,567	693	3,022	1,337
Interest expense	(25,724)	(16,692)	(50,052)	(31,784)
Facility fees and debt-related income (expense)	(2,730)	2,149	(5,093)	1,617
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	(5,407)	2,247	(10,742)	4,657
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	(7,979)	(108,606)	(9,545)	(113,428)
Depreciation	34,457		67,496	66,067
Depreciation Excluding Industrial Segment		32,463		66,067
Amortization	8,067		16,032	17,067
Amortization, Excluding Discontinued Operations		8,481		17,067
Capital Expenditures	43,624	28,307	65,105	60,759
Operating Segments
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	35,767	(88,121)	74,523	(71,151)
Operating Segments | Harsco Environmental Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues	289,593	277,599	562,782	539,650
Operating income from continuing operations	12,733	23,547	35,018	41,814
Depreciation	28,354	27,467	55,914	55,539
Amortization	1,008	1,714	2,007	3,542
Capital Expenditures	38,540	23,585	55,091	48,375
Operating Segments | Clean Earth Segment
Operations by segment
Revenues	230,575	203,453	453,039	394,199
Operating income from continuing operations	23,034	(111,668)	39,505	(112,965)
Depreciation	5,547	4,536	10,474	9,637
Amortization	6,113	6,131	12,142	12,206
Capital Expenditures	4,974	3,550	9,804	10,246
Corporate
Operations by segment
Operating income from continuing operations	(11,452)	(8,882)	(21,203)	(18,104)
Depreciation	556	460	1,108	891
Amortization	946	636	1,883	1,319
Capital Expenditures	$ 110	$ 1,172	$ 210	$ 2,138