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Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($) | May 31, 2005 USD ($) | May 23, 2005 USD ($) a | Mar. 28, 2005 USD ($) a Agreement | Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2006 a | Jan. 31, 2006 a
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of purchase and sale agreements (agreement) | Agreement |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |
Acres of timberland (acre) | a |  |  | 35,000 | 56,000 |  |  |  | 5,700 | 15,300
Approximate value of sale agreement with Plum Creek Timberland |  |  | $ 51,000,000 | $ 90,000,000 |  | $ 2,900,000 |  |  |
Pretax gain on sale |  |  | 42,100,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase notes payable |  |  | 50,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum amount of guarantee on purchase notes |  |  | $ 52,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Extended date |  |  |  |  | Nov. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |
Restricted bank financial instruments under Buyer SPE |  |  |  |  | $ 50,900,000 | 50,900,000 |  |  |
Interest income of Buyer SPE |  |  |  |  | 2,400,000 | 2,400,000 | $ 2,400,000 |  |
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  | (600,000) | 4,700,000 | 46,600,000 |  |
Proceeds from sale of investment |  |  |  |  | 300,000 | 0 | 6,000,000 |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Committed capital contribution |  |  |  |  | 150,000,000 |  |  |  |
Third Party | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Committed capital contribution |  |  |  |  | $ 150,000,000 |  |  |  |
Buyer SPE |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  | 0.00% |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percent sold of Earthminded Benelux, NV | 51.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from sale of investment | $ 300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained noncontrolling interest |  |  |  |  | $ 300,000 |  |  |  |
STA Timber |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, principal outstanding |  |  |  |  | 43,300,000 | 43,300,000 |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | 2,200,000 | 2,200,000 | 2,200,000 |  |
Flexible Packaging JV |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |  |  |  |  | $ 8,200,000 | $ 14,200,000 | $ 57,000,000 |  |
Trading Co. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  | 51.00% |  |  |  |
Asset Co. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |
Global Textile |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage in Variable Interest Entity |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |
Monetization Notes | STA Timber |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest of senior notes |  | 5.20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  | Aug. 05, 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, principal outstanding |  | $ 43,300,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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