Litigation settlement cost of remedial action.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Loss contingency, range of possible additional loss.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	schn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow to settle environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (f)
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-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period for known or estimated future costs arising from requirements to perform environmental remediation activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
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+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount awarded from other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Commitments and Contingencies - Recycling Operations - Other Legacy (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2022	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2022
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies	$ 65,985,000		$ 68,500,000
Legacy Environmental Site 1 - Remediation of Shredder Residue
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Environmental remediation expense accrued in the period		$ 4,000,000
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies	4,000,000		4,000,000
Legacy Environmental Site 1 - Remediation of Shredder Residue \| Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, range of possible loss	0
Legacy Environmental Site 1 - Remediation of Shredder Residue \| Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, range of possible loss	28,000,000
Legacy Environmental Site 2 - Remediation of Soil and Groundwater Conditions
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies	7,000,000		8,000,000
Soil Remediation Activities
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued for certain soil remediation activities	1,000,000
Legacy Remediation of Site Previously Owned and Operated
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies	7,000,000		$ 7,000,000
Metals Contamination
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, cost of remedial action	7,900,000
Litigation settlement, amount payment other party	$ 7,600,000