I would think that if they could get this junk in a low orbit, it would easily burn up going through the atmosphere. For some reason, they apparently can’t get it into that position. Am I correct on this?
Yes. There are millions on small objects, all requiring some sort of deceleration. How does on even locate small objects, let alone maneuver to them? If you try to speed up to meet with them, you end up in a higher orbit. When you attempt to slow down, you orbit below them. Each and every "meetup" has to carefully planned and started in a small "launch window" in time.
It is a really bad problem.