Commitments and Contingencies (Details)		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2012 USD ($) alternatives	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($) potentially_responsible_party T	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies		$ 46,225,000	$ 46,793,000
Auto and Metals Recycling
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies		$ 45,936,000	$ 46,494,000
Steel Manufacturing Business
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Annual production capacity | T		950,000
Permit Expiration Date		Feb. 01, 2018
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies		$ 0
Portland Harbor Superfund Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Number of Remedial Alternatives | alternatives	5
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies		1,000,000
Other Auto and Metals Recycling Business Sites
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies		$ 45,000,000
Minimum | Portland Harbor Superfund Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number Of Potentially Responsible Parties | potentially_responsible_party		80
Site Contingency, Estimated Time Frame to Remediate	4 years
Maximum | Portland Harbor Superfund Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency, Estimated Time Frame to Remediate	18 years
Lower Willamette Group | Portland Harbor Superfund Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Period Of Feasibility Study	10 years
Feasibility Study Investigation Costs	$ 100,000,000
Potential Responsible Parties | Minimum | Portland Harbor Superfund Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Least Costly Remediation Plan	550,000,000
Site Contingency Most Costly Remediation Plan	1,710,000,000
Potential Responsible Parties | Maximum | Portland Harbor Superfund Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Site Contingency Least Costly Remediation Plan	1,190,000,000
Site Contingency Most Costly Remediation Plan	$ 3,670,000,000
EPA Region 10 | Portland Harbor Superfund Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Modified Alternative (E) Implementation Period		7 years
Modified Alternative (E) Estimated Cost		$ 1,400,000,000