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

For a defined benefit plan, the contributions made under a rehabilitation plan as a percentage of total contributions.

No definition available.

Name:	schn_MultiemployerPlanRehabilitationPlanContributionsAsPercentOfTotalContributions
Namespace Prefix:	schn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of Multiemployer Plans

No definition available.

Name:	schn_NumberOfMultiemployerPlans
Namespace Prefix:	schn_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of contributions made to multiemployer plans by the employer. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450702-114947

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450691-114947

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450657-114947

Name:	us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Expiration date of the collective bargaining arrangement requiring contributions to the multiemployer plan, in CCYY-MM-DD format. A multiemployer plan is a pension or postretirement benefit plan to which two or more unrelated employers contribute where assets contributed by one participating employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 80

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=14450570&loc=SL14450657-114947