Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	11. Contingencies The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. When a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, the most likely amount of the estimated probable loss is recorded, or if a range of probable loss can be estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum amount in the range is recorded. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters, including those described below, 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. New Idria Mercury Mine In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) 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, Inc. in 1987. As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Administrative Order of Consent (“AOC”) proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company and the EPA finalized the AOC and related Statement of Work (“SOW”) with regards to the New Idria Mine. The AOC is effective as of November 27, 2018, the date that it was executed by the EPA. The AOC and accompanying SOW document the terms, conditions and procedures for the Company’s performance of the RI/FS. In addition, the AOC required the Company to provide $2 million of financial assurance to the EPA to secure its performance during the estimated life of the RI/FS. In January 2019, the Company provided a letter of credit to satisfy this assurance requirement. The AOC also includes provisions for payment by the Company of the EPA’s costs of oversight of the RI/FS, including a prepayment in the amount of $0.2 million, which was paid in January 2019. A draft work plan for the RI/FS, in accordance with the AOC and related SOW, was submitted to the EPA for review and approval in July 2019. Upon preparation of the draft work plan for the RI/FS, the Company received preliminary estimates from its consultants for the cost of the execution of the work plan. Based on these preliminary estimates, the Company recognized additional expense of $4.0 million during the second quarter of 2019. These preliminary estimates will continue to be refined through the finalization and approval of the draft work plan, which is anticipated to occur in 2021. The Company believes it has insurance coverage that applies to the New Idria Mine and thus may be able to recover a portion of the estimated costs; however, as of March 31, 2021, the Company has not recognized potential recovery in its condensed consolidated financial statements. 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 from 1993 through February 2014. While the Company is evaluating this past cost claim and may challenge portions of it, in 2015 the Company recognized an expense of $1.3 million related to the claim. In December 2020, the EPA updated its claim to include past costs incurred from March 2014 through June 2020. As a result, the Company recognized additional expense of $0.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2020. Since October 2011, when New Idria was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA, the Company has recognized $10.4 million of costs, of which approximately $3.1 million has been paid through March 31, 2021. These costs are comprised primarily of estimates to perform the RI/FS, negotiation of the AOC, identification of possible insurance resources and other PRPs, EPA oversight fees, past cost claims made by the EPA, periodic monitoring, and responses to unilateral administrative orders issued by the EPA. No expenses were recorded related to the New Idria Mine in the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has a total reserve of $7.3 million related to the New Idria Mine, of which $1.1 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $6.2 million in Other Liabilities (long-term). It is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary as new information is obtained, including after finalization and EPA approval of the work plan for the RI/FS. 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 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 extent of oversight by the EPA and the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation. 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 that 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 costs of implementing the project. The latest estimates received in 2016 from the County provided for an expanded scope and revised the estimate of costs for implementing the project to 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 2016. No costs were incurred related to New Almaden in the quarters ended March 31, 2021 or 2020. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine, of which $0.3 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $1.2 million in Other Liabilities (long-term). The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. The Company is currently awaiting notice from Santa Clara County on the expected timing of fieldwork to commence. 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. Patent Infringement On December 11, 2018, No Spill Inc. filed suit against Scepter Manufacturing LLC and Scepter Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas asserting infringement of two patents, breach of contract, and trade dress claims in relation to plastic gasoline containers Scepter manufactures and sells in the United States. Scepter Canada, Inc. was later added in a second amended complaint. On November 15, 2019 the court dismissed Scepter Corporation from the action. While a full schedule through trial in the case has not yet been issued, a claim construction hearing is scheduled for May 13^th, 2021. The Scepter companies intend to defend themselves vigorously in this matter. On December 28, 2019, Scepter Canada, Inc. filed petitions for inter partes review (“IPR”) of the two patents asserted by No Spill, Inc. in the District of Kansas litigation. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”) instituted one IPR and denied the other. For the instituted IPR, a final decision on the validity of the patent is expected by July 2021. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, and is unable at this time to determine whether the outcome of the litigation will have a material impact on its results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded any reserves for this matter.

Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

11. Contingencies

The Company is a defendant in various lawsuits and a party to various other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which are covered in whole or in part by insurance. When a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, the most likely amount of the estimated probable loss is recorded, or if a range of probable loss can be estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, the minimum amount in the range is recorded. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary.

Based on current available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters, including those described below, 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.

New Idria Mercury Mine

In September 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) 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, Inc. in 1987. As a result of the EPA Notice Letter, Buckhorn and the Company engaged in negotiations with the EPA with respect to a draft Administrative Order of Consent (“AOC”) proposed by the EPA for the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) to determine the extent of remediation necessary and the screening of alternatives.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company and the EPA finalized the AOC and related Statement of Work (“SOW”) with regards to the New Idria Mine. The AOC is effective as of November 27, 2018, the date that it was executed by the EPA. The AOC and accompanying SOW document the terms, conditions and procedures for the Company’s performance of the RI/FS. In addition, the AOC required the Company to provide $2 million of financial assurance to the EPA to secure its performance during the estimated life of the RI/FS. In January 2019, the Company provided a letter of credit to satisfy this assurance requirement. The AOC also includes provisions for payment by the Company of the EPA’s costs of oversight of the RI/FS, including a prepayment in the amount of $0.2 million, which was paid in January 2019.

A draft work plan for the RI/FS, in accordance with the AOC and related SOW, was submitted to the EPA for review and approval in July 2019. Upon preparation of the draft work plan for the RI/FS, the Company received preliminary estimates from its consultants for the cost of the execution of the work plan. Based on these preliminary estimates, the Company recognized additional expense of $4.0 million during the second quarter of 2019. These preliminary estimates will continue to be refined through the finalization and approval of the draft work plan, which is anticipated to occur in 2021. The Company believes it has insurance coverage that applies to the New Idria Mine and thus may be able to recover a portion of the estimated costs; however, as of March 31, 2021, the Company has not recognized potential recovery in its condensed consolidated financial statements.

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 from 1993 through February 2014. While the Company is evaluating this past cost claim and may challenge portions of it, in 2015 the Company recognized an expense of $1.3 million related to the claim. In December 2020, the EPA updated its claim to include past costs incurred from March 2014 through June 2020. As a result, the Company recognized additional expense of $0.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2020.

Since October 2011, when New Idria was added to the Superfund National Priorities List by the EPA, the Company has recognized $10.4 million of costs, of which approximately $3.1 million has been paid through March 31, 2021. These costs are comprised primarily of estimates to perform the RI/FS, negotiation of the AOC, identification of possible insurance resources and other PRPs, EPA oversight fees, past cost claims made by the EPA, periodic monitoring, and responses to unilateral administrative orders issued by the EPA. No expenses were recorded related to the New Idria Mine in the quarters ended March 31, 2021 and 2020. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has a total reserve of $7.3 million related to the New Idria Mine, of which $1.1 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $6.2 million in Other Liabilities (long-term).

It is possible that adjustments to the aforementioned reserves will be necessary as new information is obtained, including after finalization and EPA approval of the work plan for the RI/FS. 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 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 extent of oversight by the EPA and the number and financial condition of other PRPs that may be named, as well as the extent of their responsibility for the remediation.

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 that 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 costs of implementing the project. The latest estimates received in 2016 from the County provided for an expanded scope and revised the estimate of costs for implementing the project to 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 2016. No costs were incurred related to New Almaden in the quarters ended March 31, 2021 or 2020. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has a total reserve of $1.5 million related to the New Almaden Mine, of which $0.3 million is classified in Other Current Liabilities and $1.2 million in Other Liabilities (long-term).

The project has not yet been implemented though significant work on design and planning has been performed. The Company is currently awaiting notice from Santa Clara County on the expected timing of fieldwork to commence. 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.

Patent Infringement

On December 11, 2018, No Spill Inc. filed suit against Scepter Manufacturing LLC and Scepter Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas asserting infringement of two patents, breach of contract, and trade dress claims in relation to plastic gasoline containers Scepter manufactures and sells in the United States. Scepter Canada, Inc. was later added in a second amended complaint. On November 15, 2019 the court dismissed Scepter Corporation from the action. While a full schedule through trial in the case has not yet been issued, a claim construction hearing is scheduled for May 13^th, 2021. The Scepter companies intend to defend themselves vigorously in this matter. On December 28, 2019, Scepter Canada, Inc. filed petitions for inter partes review (“IPR”) of the two patents asserted by No Spill, Inc. in the District of Kansas litigation. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”) instituted one IPR and denied the other. For the instituted IPR, a final decision on the validity of the patent is expected by July 2021. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, and is unable at this time to determine whether the outcome of the litigation will have a material impact on its results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded any reserves for this matter.