Listen, I’ve dug through the muck of corporate America enough to know when a company’s got more skeletons than a goddamn graveyard. Harsco Corporation – now rebranded as Enviri in some pathetic attempt to scrub their image clean – is one of those outfits that leaves a trail of environmental carnage and legal headaches wherever it goes. We’re talking about a firm that’s been knee-deep in slag dust, toxic emissions, and shady dealings for decades, all while pretending to be some kind of green saviour. It’s the kind of story that makes you want to spit – raw, unfiltered corporate greed masquerading as industry progress. And fuck me if it doesn’t piss me off how these bastards keep getting away with it, paying peanuts in fines while communities choke on their waste.This isn’t some polished PR spin; this is the gritty truth scraped from court records, government reports, and the endless litany of violations that Harsco has racked up. They’ve rebranded to Enviri, sure, but you can’t polish a turd. From air pollution scandals that turned neighbourhoods into dust bowls to international bribery probes that scream corruption, Harsco’s history is a masterclass in how to fuck over the planet and people for profit. And let’s not forget their cosy ties to other questionable players in the industrial game. Buckle up; this is going to be a rough ride through the sewers of corporate misconduct.

The Cummins Connection: Just Another Cog in a Dodgy Machine?

First off, yeah, Harsco – or Enviri, whatever they’re calling themselves these days – is indeed a customer of Cummins. Their rail division stuffs Cummins engines into everything from tampers to tie exchangers, powering the very machines that grind away at the earth’s guts. You’ve got models like the Drone Tamper running on Cummins QSL 8.9-litre diesels, or the 925 S/SS Tie Exchanger with a Cummins 2.8L under the bonnet (ok, “hood” then). It’s all there in their spec sheets, plain as day. But here’s the kicker: is this just another link in the chain of the Cummins ecosystem, where ethical behaviour seems like an optional extra? Cummins – we might have touched on this before – has its own rap sheet of emissions scandals and dodgy dealings – remember the massive fines for cheating on diesel tests? Pairing up with Harsco feels like birds of a feather flocking together, both peddling power while skimping on accountability. Makes you wonder if “sustainability” is just code for “screw you, we’ll pay the fine later.”

Environmental Violations: Choking Communities with Slag and Smoke

Harsco’s bread and butter is supposed to be “environmental services” – recycling metal waste, processing slag from steel mills, that sort of thing. Sounds noble, right? Bullshit. Dive into their record, and it’s a horror show of repeated fuck-ups that have poisoned air, water, and land across the US and beyond. Take Pennsylvania, where Harsco’s been a repeat offender for years. In 2010, they got slapped with a $15,000 penalty for environmental violations by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. Fast forward to 2012, and it’s another $6,750 for the same crap. But that’s pocket change compared to the 2022 debacle, where they coughed up $100,000 for improperly disposing of over 375,000 tons of metal slag in Armstrong County. They violated their permit left and right – no proper compaction, no cover, just dumping shit like it was yesterday’s rubbish.And Allegheny County? Christ, Harsco’s Natrona Heights facility has been a toxic nightmare. Between 2017 and 2021, they racked up penalties totalling over $150,000 for air emissions violations. Fugitive dust clouds billowing out, choking locals with particulate matter that could strip paint off a car. In 2020 alone, they paid $107,000 and were forced to build a total enclosure for their slag operations – the first of its kind in the county, because apparently basic compliance was too much to ask. These aren’t one-offs; it’s a pattern of negligence that’s left residents wheezing and regulators playing whack-a-mole.Over in Kentucky, back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, Harsco faced lawsuits from citizens fed up with dust from their slag processing at Gallatin Steel. Courts found them liable under the Clean Air Act, hitting them with $750,000 in punitive damages for “willful, wanton, and oppressive” conduct. Property values tanked, health issues spiked – all because Harsco couldn’t be arsed to control their emissions. It’s outrageous, the way these corporate pricks prioritise profits over people’s lungs.

Antitrust Shenanigans: Squashing Competition Like Bugs

Harsco’s not just polluting; they’re playing dirty in the market too. In 1999, the US Department of Justice came down hard on their $89 million acquisition of Pandrol Jackson’s railroad maintenance assets. The feds sued, saying it would kill competition in switch and crossing grinding equipment. Harsco had to divest key assets within 60 days to keep the market from becoming a monopoly. No fine, but the message was clear: these guys were willing to corner the rail sector, consequences be damned. It’s classic corporate bullying – buy out the competition, hike prices, and screw over everyone else in the chain.

Bribery and Foreign Corruption: The China Probe

Then there’s the international sleaze. In 2017, Harsco launched an internal investigation into their Rail subsidiary’s activities in China, uncovering potential improper payments – read: bribes – to grease palms and secure deals. They self-reported to the SEC and DOJ under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, but details are murky, with the probe dragging into 2019. No public penalties announced, but the stench of corruption lingers. It’s the kind of third-world kickback bullshit that Harsco brought home, all while preaching ethics in their annual reports. Hypocritical bastards.

Labour and Trade Secrets: Screwing Over Employees and Rivals

Harsco’s internal rot extends to how they treat people. In 2014, they sued a former exec, Clyde Kirkwood, and competitor Edw. C. Levy Co. for stealing trade secrets on international projects in places like Israel and Brazil. Breached non-competes, shared confidential info – it was a full-on corporate espionage drama. Harsco wanted damages and data back, screaming unfair competition under Pennsylvania law. The case settled quietly, but it exposes the cutthroat world they operate in.Fast forward to 2022, and their Clean Earth subsidiary faces a class-action lawsuit for California labour code violations – wage theft, hour skimping, the usual exploitation. And in 2023, Enviri settled with a former employee, Albert Russell Mitchell Jr., over unspecified disputes, likely employment-related. Undisclosed amount, of course – because transparency is for suckers.

The Dutch Pollution Saga: Global Reach, Global Wreckage

Harsco’s mess isn’t confined to the States. In 2022, Dutch prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into Harsco Metals and Tata Steel for environmental pollution that harmed health and the environment. Emissions from their joint operations were so bad that Greenpeace jumped in by 2024, filing complaints over toxic releases. It’s ongoing, no penalties yet, but it underscores Harsco’s global footprint of filth. Operating in over 30 countries, they export their brand of negligence, leaving locals to deal with the fallout.

The Rebrand Sham: From Harsco to Enviri – Lipstick on a Pig

In 2023, Harsco ditched their name for Enviri, touting it as a “transformation” into a green powerhouse. Bollocks. With divisions like Harsco Environmental and Clean Earth, they’re still the same outfit peddling “sustainable solutions” while racking up violations. Their 2022 sales hit $1.89 billion, but at what cost? Avoided CO2 emissions? Sure, but not enough to offset the penalties and lawsuits. It’s a cynical rebrand to distract from decades of damage.This company’s legacy is one of exploitation – of resources, regulations, and trust. They’ve paid over a million in known fines, but that’s chump change against their profits. Communities suffer, workers get shafted, and the planet pays the price. If Enviri’s the future, we’re all fucked. Time for real accountability, not more corporate smoke and mirrors.

Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project

Customer Corner – Harsco Corporation (Enviri) : Pollution, Penalties and a Parade of Corporate Bullshit