Segment Information - Segment Revenue and Segment Reconciliation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2013	May 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2012	Aug. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 31, 2012		Aug. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 2,621,911		$ 3,340,938		$ 3,459,194
Depreciation and amortization									83,070		82,256		74,866
Capital expenditures									90,381		78,560		104,964
Operating Income (loss)	(347,579)	7,187	11,390	1,213	(1,367)	22,078	17,987	14,970	(327,789)		53,668		185,964
Restructuring charges	(3,000)								(7,906)		(5,012)		0
Interest expense									(9,743)		(11,880)		(8,436)
Other income, net									83		1,168		3,277
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(337,449)		42,956		180,805
Income from joint ventures									1,183		2,636		4,622
Goodwill impairment charge	321,000								321,000		0		0
Other asset impairment charges	13,053								13,053		0		0
Metal Recycling Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,032,143		2,764,801		2,900,673
Depreciation and amortization									58,964		57,855		49,773
Capital expenditures									61,930		60,212		88,917
Operating Income (loss)									(311,549)	[1]	63,872	[1]	164,646	[1]
Restructuring charges									(2,748)		(1,660)
Income from joint ventures									1,000		2,000		5,000
Goodwill impairment charge									321,000
Other asset impairment charges									13,053
Auto Parts Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									237,314		242,910		241,038
Depreciation and amortization									11,793		10,920		10,131
Capital expenditures									12,769		7,525		7,099
Operating Income (loss)									24,539		33,304		64,027
Restructuring charges									(239)		(233)
Goodwill impairment charge									0
Steel Manufacturing Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									352,454		333,227		317,483
Depreciation and amortization									9,072		9,436		10,782
Capital expenditures									7,582		5,556		3,328
Operating Income (loss)									6,541		(2,081)		2,562
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									79,829		78,211		70,686
Capital expenditures									82,281		73,293		99,344
Operating Income (loss)									(280,469)		95,095		231,235
Operating Segments | Metal Recycling Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,210,484		2,948,707		3,070,004
Operating Segments | Auto Parts Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									313,306		316,884		319,833
Less: Intersegment Revenues | Metal Recycling Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(178,341)		(183,906)		(169,331)
Less: Intersegment Revenues | Auto Parts Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(75,992)		(73,974)		(78,795)
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									3,241		4,045		4,180
Capital expenditures									8,100		5,267		5,620
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges									(7,906)		(5,012)		0
Corporate and Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (loss)									$ (39,414)		$ (36,415)		$ (45,271)

[1] MRB operating income (loss) includes $1 million, $2 million and $5 million in income from joint ventures accounted for by the equity method in fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The MRB operating loss for fiscal 2013 also includes a goodwill impairment charge of $321 million and other asset impairment charges of $13 million.