Significant Contracts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
DLA Disposition Services
Liability for inventory included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$ 34,825,000	$ 36,425,000
Profit-sharing distributions	35,944,000	43,242,000	49,318,000
Profit-sharing distributions accrued	4,315,000	4,041,000
Surplus contract
DLA Disposition Services
Number of renewal options	2
Term of renewal options	1 year
Usable surplus property to be purchased as a fixed percentage of DoD's original acquisition value	1.80%
Profits from resale of the property retained (as a percent)	100.00%
Liability for inventory included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	9,257,000	9,627,000
Scrap contract
DLA Disposition Services
Number of renewal options	3
Term of renewal options	1 year
Profits distributed to DLA Disposition Services (as a percent)	77.00%
Performance incentive measurement period	12 months
Amount of performance incentive earned	1,265,000	1,651,000	1,601,000
Profit-sharing distributions	35,944,000	43,242,000	49,318,000
Profit-sharing distributions accrued	$ 4,315,000	$ 4,041,000	$ 7,203,000
Number of consecutive quarterly periods in which performance ratio does not exceed benchmark ratios resulting in contract termination	2
Number of preceding months in which performance ratio does not exceed benchmark ratios resulting in contract termination	12 months
Scrap contract | Maximum
DLA Disposition Services
Additional profit sharing distribution (as a percent)	2.00%
Revenue | U.S. Department of Defense | Surplus contract
DLA Disposition Services
Concentration risk (as a percent)	27.70%	27.20%	30.30%
Revenue | U.S. Department of Defense | Scrap contract
DLA Disposition Services
Concentration risk (as a percent)	13.50%	16.10%	25.50%