Funded percentage of defined benefit plan based on ratio of the market value of assets to the accumulated benefits liability (present value of accrued benefits) as of October 1, 2011.

No definition available.

Name:	schn_Irc412EFundedRatio
Namespace Prefix:	schn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Employee Benefits (Details) (Steelworkers Western Independent Shops Pension Plan [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2004	Oct. 01, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
Steelworkers Western Independent Shops Pension Plan [Member]
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]
Multiemployer Plans, Funding Status, Percentage			77.40%
Multiemployer Plan, Approved Extension Period of Amortization of Unfunded Liabilities	7 years
IRC 412(e) Funded Ratio		65.20%