EXHIBIT 32.1
                                                                    ------------


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly Report of Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2005 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Robert W. Philip, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted pursuant to ss. 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:


(1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
     respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



/s/ ROBERT W. PHILIP
- ---------------------------
Robert W. Philip
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


April 6, 2005