CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues from continuing operations:
Service revenues	$ 598,700		$ 653,527
Product revenues	153,635		125,528
Total revenues	752,335		779,055
Costs and expenses from continuing operations:
Cost of services sold	483,425		525,978
Cost of products sold	110,242		84,441
Selling, general and administrative expenses	129,203		137,789
Research and development expenses	2,060		1,340
Other expenses	40,092		471
Total costs and expenses	765,022		750,019
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	(12,687)		29,036
Interest income	674		720
Interest expense	(12,824)		(11,935)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income	(24,837)		17,821
Income tax expense	(4,498)		(4,400)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities, net	169		211
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(29,166)		13,632
Discontinued operations:
Loss on disposal of discontinued business	(650)		(1,328)
Income tax benefit related to discontinued business	244		503
Loss from discontinued operations	(406)		(825)
Net income (loss)	(29,572)		12,807
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	203		(1,376)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation	(29,369)		11,431
Amounts attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(28,963)		12,256
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(406)		(825)
Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders	$ (29,369)		$ 11,431
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,579		80,695
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)		$ 0.15
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)		$ (0.01)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)	[1]	$ 0.14
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	80,579		80,944
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)		$ 0.15
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)		$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Harsco Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (0.36)	[1]	$ 0.14
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.205		$ 0.205

[1] (a) Does not total due to rounding