Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Number of reporting segments	3
Steel Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	61.00%	59.00%
Metals Recycling and Ferrous Resources Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	32.00%	35.00%
Number of iron making initiatives	2
Steel Fabrication Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	6.00%	5.00%
Number of New Millennium Building Systems joist and deck plants	6