Business Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	Jul. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Total assets by segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item, Amount	$ 3,639,093	$ 3,157,866
Corporate and other	364,799	340,579
Total assets	4,003,892	3,498,445
Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services [Member]
Total assets by segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item, Amount	2,543,611	2,094,244
Flexible Products and Services [Member]
Total assets by segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item, Amount	380,518	353,715
Paper Packaging [Member]
Total assets by segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item, Amount	436,286	435,555
Land Management [Member]
Total assets by segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item, Amount	$ 278,678	$ 274,352