Capital Stock (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Capital Stock

Schedule of repurchase of shares of common stock

	Shares Authorized to be Purchased January 1		Additional Shares Authorized for Purchase		Shares Purchased		Remaining Shares Authorized for Purchase December 31
2009		1,536,647		463,353		—		2,000,000
2010		2,000,000		—		—		2,000,000
2011		2,000,000		—		286,577		1,713,423

Schedule of common stock activity

	Common Stock
	Shares Issued		Treasury Shares		Outstanding Shares
Outstanding, January 1, 2009		111,139,988		30,965,452		80,174,536
Stock Options Exercised		92,250		15,645		76,605
Vested Restricted Stock Units		154,947		53,029		101,918
Outstanding, December 31, 2009		111,387,185		31,034,126		80,353,059
Stock Options Exercised		115,493		24,008		91,485
Vested Restricted Stock Units		108,424		38,909		69,515
Outstanding, December 31, 2010		111,611,102		31,097,043		80,514,059
Stock Options Exercised		199,032		41,974		157,058
Vested Restricted Stock Units		121,133		28,503		92,630
Treasury Shares Purchased		—		286,577		(286,577	)
Outstanding, December 31, 2011		111,931,267		31,454,097		80,477,170

Reconciliation of basic and diluted shares

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)	2011			2010		2009
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$	(9,447	)	$	10,885	$	133,838
Weighted-average shares outstanding—basic		80,736			80,569		80,295
Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation		—			192		291
Weighted-average shares outstanding—diluted		80,736			80,761		80,586
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share, attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Basic	$	(0.12	)	$	0.14	$	1.67
Diluted	$	(0.12	)	$	0.13	$	1.66