Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended											12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2010 Maximum [Member] Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Corporate Joint Venture [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Amix Salvage And Sales Ltd [Member] Minority Shareholder Of Subsidiary [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] Property One [Member] Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] Property Two [Member] Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Maximum [Member] Property Two [Member] Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Maximum [Member] Property Two [Member] Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] Property Three [Member] Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] Director [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Maximum [Member] Director [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Maximum [Member] Director [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Maximum [Member] Immediate Family Member of Management or Principal Owner [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Partnership Interest [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Nov. 30, 2009 Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2008 Partnership Interest [Member] Segment President [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Director [Member]	Aug. 31, 2011 Immediate Family Member of Management or Principal Owner [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Immediate Family Member of Management or Principal Owner [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer [Member]	Aug. 31, 2009 Former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction			$ 48	$ 29	$ 16
Payments for Advance to Affiliate		1					(2)	2																					1	1
Due to Affiliate							2		1
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, at Fair Value, Gross Additions						2
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party										3
Related Party Noncontrolling Ownership Percentage By Noncontrolling Owners																					25.00%
Related Party Noncontrolling Ownership Percentage By Parent																					75.00%
Related Party Number Of Stores																				4
Related Party Transaction Related Party Share Of Profit																					2	2	1
Related Party Transaction Rent Expense											1	1	1	1	1
Notes Receivable, Related Parties																									5
Related Party Transaction, Rate																								5.00%
Percentage Of Legal And Consulting Costs																											50.00%
Related Party Transactions Reimbursement Of Environmental Expenses Recognized																											1	3
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties																			1									1
Insurance Recoveries	3
Related Party Transaction, Revenues from Transactions with Related Party																1		1								1
Related Parties Amount in Cost of Sales																$ 1	$ 1	$ 1