Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Number of reporting segments			3
Steel Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	61.00%	61.00%	61.00%	60.00%
Metals Recycling And Ferrous Resources Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	31.00%	33.00%	31.00%	34.00%
Number of iron making initiatives			2
Steel Fabrication Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	7.00%	6.00%	6.00%	6.00%
Number of New Millennium Building Systems joist and deck plants			6