Segment Information Segment Revenue Reconciliation to Consolidated (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
6 Months Ended |
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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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
$ 439,232us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |
$ 626,147us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |
$ 994,822us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |
$ 1,213,891us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet |
Metals Recycling Business |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
295,815us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
490,550us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
696,811us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
931,106us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
Auto Parts Business |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
50,291us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
54,141us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
109,667us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
113,205us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
Steel Manufacturing Business |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
93,126us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_SteelManufacturingBusinessMember |
81,456us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_SteelManufacturingBusinessMember |
188,344us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_SteelManufacturingBusinessMember |
169,580us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_SteelManufacturingBusinessMember |
Operating Segments | Metals Recycling Business |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
340,543us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
535,690us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
796,820us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
1,025,999us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
Operating Segments | Auto Parts Business |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
69,135us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
76,360us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
150,056us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
155,995us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
Less: Intersegment revenues | Metals Recycling Business |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
(44,728)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
(45,140)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
(100,009)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
(94,893)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_MetalRecyclingBusinessMember |
Less: Intersegment revenues | Auto Parts Business |
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Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
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Revenues |
$ (18,844)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
$ (22,219)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
$ (40,389)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |
$ (42,790)us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet / us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis = us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = schn_AutoPartsBusinessMember |