POWER OF ATTORNEY

(Section 16(a) Reporting)


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, an officer, director
and/or shareholder of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (the "Company"),
does hereby constitute and appoint John D. Carter, Ilene Dobrow Davidson,
Kelly Lang and Vicki Piersall, and any one of them, his, her or its
true and lawful attorney and agent to execute in his,her or its name any and
all reports required to be filed under Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to equity securities of the Company; and to
file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable
stock exchange; and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that
said attorneys and agents, or any of them, shall do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

This Power of Attorney revokes all prior Powers of Attorney relating to
reporting under Section 16(a) and shall remain in effect until revoked by a
subsequently filed instrument.

DATED: September 1, 2005


					/s/ GREGORY J. WITHERSPOON
					Gregory J. Witherspoon