Nature of Operations

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Nature of Operations [Abstract]

Nature of Operations

Nature of Operations

Founded in 1906, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (the “Company”), an Oregon corporation, is one of North America’s largest recyclers of ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal, a leading recycler of used and salvaged vehicles and a manufacturer of finished steel products.

The Company operates in three reporting segments as follows: the Metals Recycling Business (“MRB”), the Auto Parts Business (“APB”) and the Steel Manufacturing Business (“SMB”). MRB buys, collects, processes, recycles, sells and brokers recycled metal through its operation of one of the largest metals recycling businesses in North America. APB is one of the country’s leading networks of self-service used auto parts stores. Additionally, APB is a supplier of ferrous and nonferrous material including autobodies to MRB, which processes the autobodies into sellable recycled metal. SMB purchases recycled metal from MRB and uses its mini-mill to process the recycled metal into finished steel products.

As of August 31, 2014, all of the Company’s facilities were located in the United States (“U.S.”) and its territories and Canada.