<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-21</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912603</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCHN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249487</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDELSON JILL SCHNITZER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>45.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4966</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares are held by Jill Schnitzer Edelson and Richard H. Edelson, Trustees U/A/D 2/22/95, F/B/O Jill Schnitzer Edelson.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The reporting person has indirect beneficial ownership of 100 shares of Class A Common Stock, held by Jill Schnitzer Edelson, as custodian under Ohio Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, F/B/O Lauren R. Edelson.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles A. Ford, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

