In order to isolate thermophilic compost-promoting bacteria with high activity of cellulase and xylanase, spent mushroom substrates with sawdust were collected from mushroom cultivation farm, Jinju, Gyeongnam in Korea. Among of the isolates, one strain, designated SJ21 was selected by agar diffusion method. The strain SJ21 was identified as members of the Bacillus lincheniformis by biochemical characteristics using Bacillus ID kit and VITEK 2 system. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain SJ21 formed a distinct phylogenetic tree within the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus subtilis with 16S rDNA gene sequence similarity of 99%. On the basis of its physiological properties, biochemical characteristics and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain SJ21 was classified within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus sp. SJ21 is proposed. The cellulase and xylanase activity of Bacillus sp. SJ21 was slightly increased according to bacterial population from exponential phase to stationary phase in growth curve for Bacillus sp. SJ21.