- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders who are related parties to the consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The equity interest of the reporting entity in a business co-owned by related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of stores co-owned with a related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The related party's share of profit from a co-owned business with the reporting entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	schn_RelatedPartyTransactionRelatedPartyShareOfProfit
Namespace Prefix:	schn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Related Party Transaction Rent Expense

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	schn_RelatedPartyTransactionRentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	schn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchases during the period (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=schn_AutoPartsBusinessSegmentPresidentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_PartnershipInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Related Party Transactions (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		4 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions (Details) $ in Millions	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 05, 2015 USD ($) store	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2015 USD ($)
Corporate Joint Venture
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Purchases from joint ventures	$ 3	$ 4		$ 9	$ 17
Auto Parts Business Segment President \| Partnership Interest
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Noncontrolling Ownership Percentage By Noncontrolling Owners			25.00%
Related Party Noncontrolling Ownership Percentage By Parent			75.00%
Related Party Number Of Stores \| store			5
Related Party Transaction Related Party Share Of Profit			$ 1
Related Party Transaction Rent Expense (Less Than $1 Million through the date of his retirement in January, 2015)			$ 1