Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	10. Contingencies The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings, in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. New Idria Mercury Mine In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) formally informed a subsidiary of the Company, Buckhorn, Inc. (“Buckhorn”) via a notice letter and related documents (the “Notice Letter”) that it considers Buckhorn to be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) in connection with the New Idria Mercury Mine site (“New Idria Mine”). New Idria Mining & Chemical Company (“NIMCC”), which owned and/or operated the New Idria Mine through 1976 was merged into Buckhorn Metal Products Inc. in 1981, which was subsequently acquired by Myers Industries in 1987. As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company are engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Administrative Order proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives. The New Idria Mine is located near Hollister, California and was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA in October 2011, at which time the Company recognized expense of $1.9 million related to performing the RI/FS. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company, based on discussions with the EPA, determined that the RI/FS will begin in 2017 and therefore obtained updated estimated costs to perform the RI/FS. As a result of the updated estimated costs, the Company recorded additional expense of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2016. As part of the Notice Letter, the EPA also made a claim for approximately $1.6 million in past costs for actions it claims it has taken in connection with the New Idria Mine since 1993. While the Company is challenging these past cost claims, in 2015 the Company recognized expense of $1.3 million related to these claims. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has a total reserve of $2.4 million related to the New Idria Mine, of which $0.3 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $2.1 million is classified in Other Liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited). As negotiations with the EPA proceed it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. Estimates of the Company’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of the Company’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the negotiations with EPA, the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of remedial actions that may be required, the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses. At this time, we have not accrued for remediation costs in connection with this site as we are unable to estimate the liability, given the circumstances referred to above, including the fact the final remediation strategy has not yet been determined. New Almaden Mine A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn (as successor to NIMCC), were alleged by trustee agencies of the United States and the State of California to be responsible for natural resource damages due to environmental contamination of areas comprising the historical New Almaden mercury mines located in the Guadalupe River Watershed region in Santa Clara County, California (“County”). In 2005, Buckhorn and the Company, without admitting liability or chain of ownership of NIMCC, resolved the trustees’ claim against them through a consent decree that required them to contribute financially to the implementation by the County of an environmentally beneficial project within the impacted area. Buckhorn and the Company negotiated an agreement with the County, whereby Buckhorn and the Company agreed to reimburse one-half of the County’s original cost estimate of $1.6 million of implementing the project. As a result, in 2005, the Company recognized expense of $0.8 million representing its share of the initial estimated project costs, of which approximately $0.5 million has been paid to date. In April 2016, the Company was notified by the County that the original cost estimate may no longer be appropriate due to expanded scope and increased costs of construction and provided a revised estimate of between $3.3 million and $4.4 million. The Company completed a detailed review of the support provided by the County for the revised estimate, and as a result, recognized additional expense of $1.2 million in the second and third quarters of 2016. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine, of which $0.2 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $1.3 million is classified in Other Liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited). The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. Field work on the project is expected to commence in 2017. As work on the project occurs, it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. In addition, the Company may have claims against and defenses to claims by the County under the 2005 agreement that could reduce or offset its obligation for reimbursement of some of these potential additional costs. With the assistance of environmental consultants, the Company will closely monitor this matter and will continue to assess its reserves as additional information becomes available. Lawn and Garden Indemnification Claim In connection with the sale of the Lawn and Garden business, as described in Note 3, the Company received a Notice of Indemnification Claims in April 2015, and a Second Notice of Indemnification Claims in July 2016 (collectively, the “Claims”), alleging breaches of certain representations and warranties under the agreement resulting in losses in the amount of approximately $10 million. The Company believes these Claims are without merit and intends to vigorously defend its position. As described in Note 3, approximately $8.6 million of the sale proceeds were placed in escrow and due to be settled in August 2016, but have been extended until the Claims are resolved. When a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the estimated loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable of occurrence than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters will be assessed and the estimates will be revised, if necessary. Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or overall trends in our results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or in future periods.

10. Contingencies

The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings, in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance.

New Idria Mercury Mine

In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) formally informed a subsidiary of the Company, Buckhorn, Inc. (“Buckhorn”) via a notice letter and related documents (the “Notice Letter”) that it considers Buckhorn to be a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) in connection with the New Idria Mercury Mine site (“New Idria Mine”). New Idria Mining & Chemical Company (“NIMCC”), which owned and/or operated the New Idria Mine through 1976 was merged into Buckhorn Metal Products Inc. in 1981, which was subsequently acquired by Myers Industries in 1987. As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company are engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Administrative Order proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives. The New Idria Mine is located near Hollister, California and was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA in October 2011, at which time the Company recognized expense of $1.9 million related to performing the RI/FS. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company, based on discussions with the EPA, determined that the RI/FS will begin in 2017 and therefore obtained updated estimated costs to perform the RI/FS. As a result of the updated estimated costs, the Company recorded additional expense of $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2016. As part of the Notice Letter, the EPA also made a claim for approximately $1.6 million in past costs for actions it claims it has taken in connection with the New Idria Mine since 1993. While the Company is challenging these past cost claims, in 2015 the Company recognized expense of $1.3 million related to these claims.

As of March 31, 2017, the Company has a total reserve of $2.4 million related to the New Idria Mine, of which $0.3 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $2.1 million is classified in Other Liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited).

As negotiations with the EPA proceed it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. Estimates of the Company’s liability are based on current facts, laws, regulations and technology. Estimates of the Company’s environmental liabilities are further subject to uncertainties regarding the negotiations with EPA, the nature and extent of site contamination, the range of remediation alternatives available, evolving remediation standards, imprecise engineering evaluation and cost estimates, the extent of remedial actions that may be required, the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation, and the availability of insurance coverage for these expenses.

At this time, we have not accrued for remediation costs in connection with this site as we are unable to estimate the liability, given the circumstances referred to above, including the fact the final remediation strategy has not yet been determined.

New Almaden Mine

A number of parties, including the Company and its subsidiary, Buckhorn (as successor to NIMCC), were alleged by trustee agencies of the United States and the State of California to be responsible for natural resource damages due to environmental contamination of areas comprising the historical New Almaden mercury mines located in the Guadalupe River Watershed region in Santa Clara County, California (“County”). In 2005, Buckhorn and the Company, without admitting liability or chain of ownership of NIMCC, resolved the trustees’ claim against them through a consent decree that required them to contribute financially to the implementation by the County of an environmentally beneficial project within the impacted area. Buckhorn and the Company negotiated an agreement with the County, whereby Buckhorn and the Company agreed to reimburse one-half of the County’s original cost estimate of $1.6 million of implementing the project. As a result, in 2005, the Company recognized expense of $0.8 million representing its share of the initial estimated project costs, of which approximately $0.5 million has been paid to date. In April 2016, the Company was notified by the County that the original cost estimate may no longer be appropriate due to expanded scope and increased costs of construction and provided a revised estimate of between $3.3 million and $4.4 million. The Company completed a detailed review of the support provided by the County for the revised estimate, and as a result, recognized additional expense of $1.2 million in the second and third quarters of 2016. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine, of which $0.2 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $1.3 million is classified in Other Liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited).

The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. Field work on the project is expected to commence in 2017. As work on the project occurs, it is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary to reflect new information. In addition, the Company may have claims against and defenses to claims by the County under the 2005 agreement that could reduce or offset its obligation for reimbursement of some of these potential additional costs. With the assistance of environmental consultants, the Company will closely monitor this matter and will continue to assess its reserves as additional information becomes available.

Lawn and Garden Indemnification Claim

In connection with the sale of the Lawn and Garden business, as described in Note 3, the Company received a Notice of Indemnification Claims in April 2015, and a Second Notice of Indemnification Claims in July 2016 (collectively, the “Claims”), alleging breaches of certain representations and warranties under the agreement resulting in losses in the amount of approximately $10 million. The Company believes these Claims are without merit and intends to vigorously defend its position. As described in Note 3, approximately $8.6 million of the sale proceeds were placed in escrow and due to be settled in August 2016, but have been extended until the Claims are resolved.

When a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the estimated loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable of occurrence than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters will be assessed and the estimates will be revised, if necessary.

Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or overall trends in our results of operations. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or in future periods.