Segment Information - Results Footnote (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	$ (149,781)	$ (112,898)
Profit sharing	(48,848)	(21,454)
Operating income (loss)	594,199	273,686
Gross profit	800,266	415,229
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,245,165		$ 1,368,618
Inventories	2,217,534		1,843,548
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,340,411		4,105,569
Other assets	117,062		119,743
Total assets	10,127,896		$ 9,265,562
Operating Segment | Other
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	(18,000)	(17,200)
Company-wide equity-based compensation	(23,000)	(8,200)
Profit sharing	(48,100)	(21,300)
Other, net	(1,800)	300
Operating income (loss)	(90,913)	(46,355)
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,154,200
Accounts receivable	52,300
Inventories	95,900
Property, plant and equipment, net	133,000
Intra-company debt	11,700
Other assets	40,500
Total assets	1,487,620
Operating Segment | Metals Recycling Operations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	50,563	5,528
Assets
Total assets	1,260,615
Eliminations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	(12,716)	(3,044)
Gross profit	(13,000)	$ (3,300)
Assets
Accounts receivable	(76,400)
Intra-company debt	(11,700)
Other assets	(29,300)
Total assets	$ (117,381)