Equity Method Investment - Summarized Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Receivable due from equity method investment	$ 72		$ 72			$ 96
Current assets	136,437		136,437			98,510
Total assets	380,169		380,169			355,756
Current liabilities	122,646		122,646			114,625
Total liabilities and members’ equity	35,462	$ 73,569	35,462	$ 73,569	$ 39,406	53,273	$ 90,673	$ 93,390
Net income	(3,403)	(17,276)	(17,299)	(19,619)
Charah Solutions’ share of net income	326	663	622	1,217
Equity method investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Current assets	2,051		2,051			2,482
Noncurrent assets	339		339			395
Total assets	2,390		2,390			2,877
Current liabilities	288		288			321
Total liabilities and members’ equity	2,390		2,390			2,877
Revenue	1,546	2,533	3,024	4,753
Net income	651	$ 1,325	1,243	$ 2,433
Charah | Equity method investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total liabilities and members’ equity	4,851		4,851			5,078
Joint Venture Partner | Equity method investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total liabilities and members’ equity	$ (2,749)		$ (2,749)			$ (2,522)