To provide a microorganism capable of degrading organochlorine compounds to not higher than values of environmental standards without a cometabolic substrate in a short time and a method for degrading the organochlorine compounds in water or soil using the microorganism.

This organochlorine compound-degrading microorganism is composed of Ralstonia sp. TE26 (FERM P-18353) of the genus Ralstonia. An oxidase degrading the organochlorine compounds is expressed by the organochlorine compound-degrading microorganism without the cometabolic substrate such as phenol or toluene. Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds, especially trichloroethylene (TCE) or/and dichloroethylene (DCE) are preferably adopted as the organochlorine compounds. The polluted environment is cleaned up by bringing the organochlorine compounds into contact with the microorganism (FERM P-18353) and degrading the compounds.