Restructuring Programs (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Harsco Infrastructure Segment \| Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program
Restructuring Programs
Number of employees reduced in workforce to date	429
Number of employees in total expected workforce reduction	494
Harsco Infrastructure Segment \| Prior Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Programs
Number of employees reduced in workforce to date	249
Number of employees in total expected workforce reduction	249
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	1,318,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	(355,000)
Cash Expenditures	(935,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	41,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	69,000
Harsco Infrastructure Segment \| Prior Restructuring Programs \| Employee termination benefit cost
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	905,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	(335,000)
Cash Expenditures	(571,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	27,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	26,000
Harsco Infrastructure Segment \| Prior Restructuring Programs \| Cost to exit activities
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	413,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	(20,000)
Cash Expenditures	(364,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	14,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	43,000
Harsco Metals and Minerals Segment \| Prior Restructuring Programs
Restructuring Programs
Number of employees reduced in workforce to date	83
Number of employees in total expected workforce reduction	242
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	2,973,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	(88,000)
Cash Expenditures	(722,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	37,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	2,200,000
Harsco Metals and Minerals Segment \| Prior Restructuring Programs \| Employee termination benefit cost
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	2,109,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	(88,000)
Cash Expenditures	(623,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	8,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	1,406,000
Harsco Metals and Minerals Segment \| Prior Restructuring Programs \| Cost to exit activities
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	864,000
Cash Expenditures	(99,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	29,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	794,000
Prior Restructuring Programs
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	4,291,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	(443,000)
Cash Expenditures	(1,657,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	78,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	2,269,000
Remaining amount of accrual expected to be paid through cash expenditures throughout 2011	2,300,000
Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	30,800,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	326,000
Cash Expenditures	(14,586,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	738,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	17,278,000
Remaining amount of accrual expected to be paid through cash expenditures throughout 2011	17,300,000
Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program \| Employee termination benefit cost
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	9,254,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	(1,039,000)
Cash Expenditures	(5,678,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	403,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	2,940,000
Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program \| Cost to exit activities
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	21,449,000
Adjustments to Previously Recorded Restructuring Charges	1,365,000
Cash Expenditures	(8,818,000)
Foreign Currency Translation	335,000
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	14,331,000
Fourth Quarter 2010 Harsco Infrastructure Program \| Other.
Restructuring accrual related activity
Accrual, balance at the beginning of the period	97,000
Cash Expenditures	(90,000)
Accrual, balance at the end of the period	7,000

Adjustments to previously recorded restructuring charges resulting from changes in facts and circumstances in the implementation of these activities as well as the timing of additional expenses recognized under U.S. GAAP.

Name:	hsc_RestructuringReservePeriodExpenseAndOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	hsc
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The quantified amount of the future effect on cash flows.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectOnFutureCashFlowsAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The expected number of positions to be eliminated as a result of restructuring activities.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedNumberOfPositionsEliminated
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of positions eliminated as of the balance sheet date since inception of the restructuring plan(s).

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminatedInceptionToDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringReserveRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash paid in the period to fully or partially settle a specified, previously accrued type of restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b) (2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringReserveSettledWithCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation adjustment increasing or decreasing the accrual for a specified type of restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringReserveTranslationAdjustment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration