Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | ||||
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Feb. 28, 2015
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Feb. 28, 2014
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Feb. 28, 2015
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Feb. 28, 2014
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Nov. 30, 2014
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Aug. 31, 2014
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Schedule of Asset Impairments [Line Items] | ||||||
APB other exit-related costs | $ 6,352,000schn_RestructuringandRelatedCostsAssetImpairmentChargesandAcceleratedDepreciation | $ 566,000schn_RestructuringandRelatedCostsAssetImpairmentChargesandAcceleratedDepreciation | ||||
Total long-lived asset impairment charges | 44,210,000schn_ImpairmentofLonglivedAssetsHeldandUsedandOtherExitRelatedImpairmentCharges | 0schn_ImpairmentofLonglivedAssetsHeldandUsedandOtherExitRelatedImpairmentCharges | 44,210,000schn_ImpairmentofLonglivedAssetsHeldandUsedandOtherExitRelatedImpairmentCharges | 0schn_ImpairmentofLonglivedAssetsHeldandUsedandOtherExitRelatedImpairmentCharges | ||
Long-lived assets | 41,544,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | 41,544,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse | ||
Assets held for sale | 1,549,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf | 928,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf | 1,549,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf | 928,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf | ||
Other | 745,000schn_AssetImpairmentChargesOther | 0schn_AssetImpairmentChargesOther | 745,000schn_AssetImpairmentChargesOther | 0schn_AssetImpairmentChargesOther | ||
Other Asset Impairment Charges | 43,838,000us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges | 928,000us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges | 43,838,000us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges | 928,000us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges | ||
Book Overdrafts | 22,000,000schn_BookOverdrafts | 22,000,000schn_BookOverdrafts | 35,000,000schn_BookOverdrafts | |||
Number of Days Used To Determine Short Term Highly Liquid Investments Treatment As Cash Equivalents | 90 days | |||||
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses | 8,000,000us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses | 8,000,000us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses | ||||
Assets Held-for-sale, Current | 3,000,000us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrent | 3,000,000us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrent | 3,000,000us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrent | |||
Goodwill impairment charge | 141,021,000us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | 141,021,000us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss | ||
Cash, FDIC Insured Amount | 250,000us-gaap_CashFDICInsuredAmount | 250,000us-gaap_CashFDICInsuredAmount | ||||
Customer Issued Letters Of Credit | 24,000,000schn_CustomerIssuedLettersOfCredit | 24,000,000schn_CustomerIssuedLettersOfCredit | 74,000,000schn_CustomerIssuedLettersOfCredit | |||
Metals Recycling Business | ||||||
Schedule of Asset Impairments [Line Items] | ||||||
Long-lived assets | 41,544,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
41,544,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
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Goodwill impairment charge | 141,021,000us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
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Auto Parts Business | ||||||
Schedule of Asset Impairments [Line Items] | ||||||
Goodwill impairment charge | 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
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Asset Impairments | Auto Parts Business | ||||||
Schedule of Asset Impairments [Line Items] | ||||||
APB other exit-related costs | $ 2,666,000schn_RestructuringandRelatedCostsAssetImpairmentChargesandAcceleratedDepreciation / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = schn_AssetImpairmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
$ 0schn_RestructuringandRelatedCostsAssetImpairmentChargesandAcceleratedDepreciation / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = schn_AssetImpairmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
$ 2,666,000schn_RestructuringandRelatedCostsAssetImpairmentChargesandAcceleratedDepreciation / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = schn_AssetImpairmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
$ 0schn_RestructuringandRelatedCostsAssetImpairmentChargesandAcceleratedDepreciation / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = schn_AssetImpairmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
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- Definition
Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement not already included in other impairment charges. No definition available.
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- Definition
Book overdrafts represent outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit which are classified as liabilities as of the balance sheet date. No definition available.
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- Definition
Letters of credit obtained from customers to guarantee payment of open accounts receivable as of the reporting date. No definition available.
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- Definition
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets held and used and other exit-related impairment charges. No definition available.
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- Definition
The maximum number of days (from original maturity) used to determine short term highly liquid investments treated as cash equivalents. No definition available.
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- Definition
The aggregate amount provided for estimated restructuring and related exit costs, remediation costs, and asset impairment loss and accelerated depreciation during an accounting period. Generally, these items are either unusual or infrequent, but not both (in which case they would be extraordinary items). No definition available.
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- Details
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- Definition
Current assets (normally turning over within one year or one business cycle if longer) that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold within one year. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The amount of cash deposited in financial institutions as of the balance sheet date that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. No definition available.
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- Definition
A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long-lived assets held for abandonment, exchange or sale. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets other than goodwill due to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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