Strain YA was newly isolated from an enrichment culture of river sediment and was identified as Janibacter sp. It was able to utilize dibenzofuran as the sole source of carbon and energy. Strain YA degraded > 90% of 1-chloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (1-CDD) and > 80% of 2-chloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin in 18 hours with each initial concentration at 40 mg/L. A novel metabolite, 2-chloro-2',6-dihydroxydiphenylether, was observed in 1-CDD degradation. From the metabolites detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, strain YA was supposed to have at least two types of oxidation pathways in 1-CDD degradation.