Information by Segment and Geographic Area (Details 3) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) Customer	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) Customer	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) Customer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,069,225	$ 1,889,065	$ 1,848,399
Operating income from continuing operations	111,014	(57,343)	88,376
Total assets	2,854,552	2,790,854	3,053,908
Depreciation	138,956	129,712	131,449
Depreciation Excluding Industrial Segment	138,956	129,712	127,402
Amortization	32,408	34,137	35,224
Amortization Excluding Deferred Financing Costs	32,408	34,137	34,942
Capital Expenditures	136,572	135,542	156,920
Interest income	6,670	3,559	2,231
Interest expense	(103,872)	(75,156)	(63,235)
Defined benefit pension income (expense)	(21,600)	8,938	15,640
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(10,762)	(2,956)	(5,506)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	$ (18,550)	$ (122,958)	$ 37,506
Number of major customers | Customer	0	0	0
Harsco Environmental
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of major customers | Customer	1	1	1
Clean Earth
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income from continuing operations	$ 76,974	$ (81,785)	$ 25,639
Total assets	981,723	980,774	1,278,472
Depreciation	23,252	18,836	19,672
Amortization	24,583	24,299	24,180
Capital Expenditures	$ 32,100	21,996	18,403
Number of major customers | Customer	1
Operating segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income from continuing operations	$ 154,609	(22,226)	129,041
Operating segments | Harsco Environmental
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,140,904	1,061,239	1,068,083
Operating income from continuing operations	77,635	59,559	103,402
Total assets	1,417,278	1,416,717	1,386,087
Depreciation	113,571	108,880	105,830
Amortization	4,030	6,809	8,052
Capital Expenditures	104,045	109,508	137,228
Operating segments | Clean Earth
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	928,321	827,826	780,316
Operating segments | Harsco Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	346,163	336,245	333,263
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income from continuing operations	(43,595)	(35,117)	(40,665)
Total assets	109,388	57,118	56,086
Depreciation	2,133	1,996	1,900
Amortization	3,795	3,029	2,710
Capital Expenditures	$ 427	$ 4,038	$ 1,289