A method for opening cigarettes constituting cigarette waste in a device comprising a rotational drum (1) the inner wall of which is provided with at least one scraping away element (2, 2′, 2″) extending generally along the drum, and at least one rotational beater (4, 4′, 4″) located inside the drum (1) striking against the cigarettes, wherein the cigarettes fed into the rotating drum (1) and being lifted by means of at the least one scraping away element (2, 2′, 2″) and falling by gravity, are struck against by means of the at least one rotational beater (4, 4′, 4″) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes of the cigarettes with a force enabling their opening. A device for realization of the method of the invention.