In　this　paper,　three　effective　toluene-degrading　bacteria　were　obtained　through　acclimation　and　screening　by　using　landfill　leachate　as　the　initial　liquid　strain.　The　three　obtained　bacteria　were　denoted　as　J1,　J2　and　J3,　and　identified　as　Pseudomonas,　Bacillus　and　Staphylococcus,　respectively.　We　then　identified　the　optimal　combination　of　these　toluene-degrading　bacteria　in　the　laboratory.　The　combination　of　J1　+　J3　(1:1)　exhibited　the　highest　toluene　removal　efficiency　(RE).　A　vertical　bio-trickling　filter　(BTF)　packed　with　ceramsite　was　started　by　inoculation　with　the　effective　combination.　The　performance　of　the　BTF　in　treating　toluene　under　various　operating　conditions　was　investigated.　After　17　days　of　operation,　the　toluene　RE　reached　about　90%　and　the　maximum　elimination　capacity　reached　42.0　g　m(-3)　h(-1).　The　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM)　showed　that　after　the　successful　start-up　of　the　BTF,　the　biofilm　on　the　packing　surface　primarily　consisted　of　Bacillus　and　Staphylococcus.　During　the　stable　state,　the　RE　of　the　BTF　was　maintained　above　80%,　the　shortest　empty　bed　residence　time　was　34　s　and　toluene　concentrations　ranged　between　300　and　800　mg　m(-3).　The　results　indicate　that　the　BTF　started　using　the　effective　combination　of　bacteria　described　here　is　robust.　This　paper　also　provides　a　preliminary　analysis　of　the　mechanism　of　microbial　degradation　of　pollutants　in　the　BTF.