Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaporative containment of liquid or solid wastes includes an evaporative membrane for receiving the solid or liquid waste and at least one flap including a wicking layer, an odor-neutralizing layer, or both, and a skeletal frame. An apparatus and method for moisture removal from media includes a hydrophilic evaporative layer and a wicking layer, the hydrophilic evaporative layer being non-porous or nano-porous and allowing selective passage of vapor water molecules while preventing passage of suspended or dissolved solids, ions, salt, or pollutants, the wicking layer absorbing and spreading bulk moisture across a surface area. An apparatus and method for collecting liquid or solid wastes includes liquid and solid waste capture containers capable of volume reduction of captured waste and generating a liquid or gas effluent with fewer impurities than the captured waste.