Segment Information - Other Footnote (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	$ (97,056)	$ (95,185)	$ (298,422)	$ (279,899)
Profit sharing	(21,175)	(22,255)	(69,714)	(51,722)
Operating income (loss)	271,015	283,855	870,934	671,942
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,101,964	1,051,489	1,101,964	1,051,489	$ 908,843	$ 841,483	$ 1,052,666	$ 727,032
Accounts receivable	923,017		923,017			729,784
Inventories	1,487,516		1,487,516			1,275,211
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,708,777		2,708,777			2,787,215
Other	27,940		27,940			29,514
Total assets	6,960,737		6,960,737			$ 6,423,732
Other
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	(12,100)	(12,600)	(37,900)	(38,500)
Company-wide equity-based compensation	(6,800)	(6,100)	(23,500)	(20,400)
Profit sharing	(20,200)	(21,000)	(66,800)	(47,700)
Other, net	(5,200)	(8,000)	(13,200)	(18,600)
Operating income (loss)	(44,326)	(47,687)	(141,406)	(125,186)
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,065,900		1,065,900
Accounts receivable	14,000		14,000
Inventories	42,800		42,800
Property, plant and equipment, net	162,400		162,400
Intra Company Debt	10,700		10,700
Other	51,200		51,200
Total assets	1,346,968		1,346,968
Metals Recycling Operations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	17,624	$ 6,154	51,968	$ 20,014
Assets
Total assets	$ 1,032,018		$ 1,032,018