Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 2,668	$ 2,720
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation	668,653	659,872
Intangibles, accumulated amortization	$ 6,820	$ 15,612
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (“SSI”) shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	20,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares issued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Class A Common Stock
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (“SSI”) shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, shares authorized	75,000,000	75,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares issued	26,480,000	26,384,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	26,480,000	26,384,000
Class B Common Stock
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (“SSI”) shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, shares authorized	25,000,000	25,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares issued	306,000	306,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	306,000	306,000

Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

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