Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Description of the Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Number of reporting segments			3
Steel Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	62.00%	61.00%	61.00%	60.00%
Metals Recycling/Ferrous Resources
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	29.00%	32.00%	30.00%	33.00%
Number of iron making initiatives			2
Steel Fabrication Operations
Segment Reporting Information
Percentage of external net sales	8.00%	6.00%	7.00%	6.00%
Number of New Millennium Building Systems joist and deck plants			6