Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Income tax expense from continuing operations decreased, primarily due to the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge recorded as part of the Infrastructure transaction for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012. This decrease was partially offset by valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets within certain foreign jurisdictions in which the Harsco Infrastructure Segment operates, and for the expected tax costs of cash repatriation from the Infrastructure transaction. The effective income tax rate related to continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was (4.9)% and (16.3)%, respectively. The effective income tax rate related to continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 33.7% and 72.5%, respectively. The effective income tax rate changed between 2012 and 2013 primarily due to the jurisdictional mix of the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge recorded as part of the Infrastructure transaction compared with restructuring charges recorded during 2012; tax expense recorded for valuation allowances on deferred tax assets within certain foreign jurisdictions in which the Harsco Infrastructure Segment operates; and for the expected tax costs of cash repatriation from the Infrastructure transaction. Due to the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge, certain foreign jurisdictions’ deferred tax assets for the Harsco Infrastructure Segment were no longer realizable on a more-likely-than-not basis after weighing all available positive and negative evidence. One of the significant pieces of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative losses in certain foreign jurisdictions in recent years after considering the effects of the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge. Such objective evidence outweighed all other available positive evidence. This resulted in tax expense of approximately $11 million to reduce beginning of the year net deferred tax assets for these foreign jurisdictions. Due to the expected repatriation of proceeds from the Infrastructure transaction, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability to estimate the cost of distributing prior year earnings that were previously indefinitely reinvested. This resulted in tax expense of approximately $8 million for the tax-costs of cash repatriation, including a reduction for any available foreign tax credits. Excluding any cash repatriation associated with the Infrastructure transaction, the Company remains indefinitely reinvested for all other undistributed earnings. An income tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on technical merits, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes. The unrecognized income tax benefit at September 30, 2013 was $28.0 million, including interest and penalties. Within the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that up to $4.3 million of unrecognized income tax benefits will be recognized upon settlement of tax examinations and the expiration of various statutes of limitations. Of this amount, approximately $1 million relates to uncertain tax positions for entities included in the Infrastructure transaction. The Company was contacted by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to audit the Company's 2010 income tax return. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service commenced its audit during the second quarter of 2013.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense from continuing operations decreased, primarily due to the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge recorded as part of the Infrastructure transaction for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012. This decrease was partially offset by valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets within certain foreign jurisdictions in which the Harsco Infrastructure Segment operates, and for the expected tax costs of cash repatriation from the Infrastructure transaction.

The effective income tax rate related to continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was (4.9)% and (16.3)%, respectively. The effective income tax rate related to continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 was 33.7% and 72.5%, respectively. The effective income tax rate changed between 2012 and 2013 primarily due to the jurisdictional mix of the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge recorded as part of the Infrastructure transaction compared with restructuring charges recorded during 2012; tax expense recorded for valuation allowances on deferred tax assets within certain foreign jurisdictions in which the Harsco Infrastructure Segment operates; and for the expected tax costs of cash repatriation from the Infrastructure transaction.

Due to the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge, certain foreign jurisdictions’ deferred tax assets for the Harsco Infrastructure Segment were no longer realizable on a more-likely-than-not basis after weighing all available positive and negative evidence. One of the significant pieces of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative losses in certain foreign jurisdictions in recent years after considering the effects of the estimated non-cash long-lived asset impairment charge. Such objective evidence outweighed all other available positive evidence. This resulted in tax expense of approximately $11 million to reduce beginning of the year net deferred tax assets for these foreign jurisdictions.

Due to the expected repatriation of proceeds from the Infrastructure transaction, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability to estimate the cost of distributing prior year earnings that were previously indefinitely reinvested. This resulted in tax expense of approximately $8 million for the tax-costs of cash repatriation, including a reduction for any available foreign tax credits. Excluding any cash repatriation associated with the Infrastructure transaction, the Company remains indefinitely reinvested for all other undistributed earnings.

An income tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on technical merits, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes. The unrecognized income tax benefit at September 30, 2013 was $28.0 million, including interest and penalties. Within the next twelve months, it is reasonably possible that up to $4.3 million of unrecognized income tax benefits will be recognized upon settlement of tax examinations and the expiration of various statutes of limitations. Of this amount, approximately $1 million relates to uncertain tax positions for entities included in the Infrastructure transaction.

The Company was contacted by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to audit the Company's 2010 income tax return. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service commenced its audit during the second quarter of 2013.