Accounts Receivable and Note Receivable - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 24, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Jan. 31, 2020	Jan. 01, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable	$ 278,876		$ 278,876		$ 389,535
Accounts receivable past due by twelve months or more	3,200		3,200
Capitalized fees related to the securitization facility				$ 1,800
Proceeds from accounts receivable securitization	25,000	$ 120,000	145,000
Trade accounts receivable, net	269,890		269,890		377,881
Accounts receivable under factoring arrangement, program capacity	28,800		28,800		16,500
Note receivable, face value						$ 40,000
Note receivable, interest rate						2.50%
Note receivable, initial fair value						$ 34,300
Proceeds from sale of notes receivable, excess cash flow		$ 8,600	8,600
Harsco Industrial IKG | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Selling price							$ 85,000
Accounts Receivable Under Factoring Arrangement
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable, net	15,700		15,700		$ 12,900
PNC
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable securitization, maximum purchase commitment				$ 150,000
Total outstanding trade receivables sold and derecognized	145,000		145,000
Accounts receivable from securitization	86,500		86,500
Greater than 12 months
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable	$ 7,400		$ 7,400