Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 29, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 51,720	$ 49,462
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,603 and $6,148	210,083	229,975
Inventories, net	324,818	335,120
Deferred income taxes	11,274	11,784
Refundable income taxes	13,581	3,541
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	31,004	24,117
Total current assets	642,480	653,999
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $503,416 and $471,305	552,851	555,284
Investments in joint venture partnerships	17,654	17,208
Goodwill	628,079	627,805
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $16,409 and $20,846	18,029	20,906
Other assets	14,694	14,967
Total assets	1,873,787	1,890,169
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	668	643
Accounts payable	115,415	141,011
Accrued payroll and related liabilities	22,040	36,475
Environmental liabilities	3,060	2,983
Accrued income taxes	3,836	13,833
Other accrued liabilities	41,521	38,368
Total current liabilities	186,540	233,313
Deferred income taxes	88,926	85,378
Long-term debt, net of current maturities	412,891	403,287
Environmental liabilities, net of current portion	37,569	37,872
Other long-term liabilities	9,562	10,030
Total liabilities	735,488	769,880
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	21,176	19,053
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (“SSI”) shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock – 20,000 shares $1.00 par value authorized, none issued
Additional paid-in capital	5,099	762
Retained earnings	1,079,528	1,065,109
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(610)	1,540
Total SSI shareholders’ equity	1,111,307	1,094,712
Noncontrolling interests	5,816	6,524
Total equity	1,117,123	1,101,236
Total liabilities and equity	1,873,787	1,890,169
Common Class A [Member]
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (“SSI”) shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, value	24,873	24,241
Common Class B [Member]
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (“SSI”) shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, value	$ 2,417	$ 3,060