POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        LEONARD SCHNITZER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        LEONARD SCHNITZER


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        KENNETH M. NOVACK
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        KENNETH M. NOVACK



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        ROBERT W. PHILIP
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        ROBERT W. PHILIP


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        DORI SCHNITZER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        DORI SCHNITZER


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        CAROL S. LEWIS
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        CAROL S. LEWIS


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        GARY SCHNITZER
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        GARY SCHNITZER


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        SCOTT LEWIS
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        SCOTT LEWIS


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        JEAN S. REYNOLDS
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        JEAN S. REYNOLDS


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        ROBERT S. BALL
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        ROBERT S. BALL


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        WILLIAM A. FURMAN
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        WILLIAM A. FURMAN


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        RALPH R. SHAW
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        RALPH R. SHAW


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        BARRY A. ROSEN
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        BARRY A. ROSEN


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                   (Form 10-K)

                  The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Robert
W. Philip, Kenneth M. Novack, Barry A. Rosen and Kelly Lang his true and lawful
attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. for the year ended
August 31, 1999 and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each attorney and agent full
power and authority to do any and all acts and things necessary or advisable to
be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the attorney and agent or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Dated:  October 4, 1999.

                                        KELLY LANG
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        KELLY LANG