Goodwill Schedule of Goodwill (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2016	$ 166,847
May 31, 2017	166,273
Auto and Metals Recycling
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
August 31, 2016	166,847
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(574)
May 31, 2017	$ 166,273