The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for handling portions (73) of a material web (20) of packaging material, in particular within an apparatus for producing packages (10) for products of the cigarette industry, wherein a continuous material web (20) is transported along a conveyor section, and portions (73) are separated from the material web (20) in a cutting device (21). The invention is characterized in that the portions (73) separated from the material web (20) are deflected by means of compressed air into a collecting vessel (74) arranged adjacent to the cutting device (21).