I recall taking recyclables to a collection center in Oceanside and getting a small amount back. The place was on Oceanside Blvd as I recall but it's been a while. I didn't think it was worth the effort.

The California Bottle Bill legislated a system that operates different from that in most states charging deposits.

Instead of retailers collecting the recycable containers and refunding deposits, there are collection centers. Also, as pointed out, one can place recylables in bins for pickup at one's home. In the latter case the service collecting the recyclables gets claim to their value.

The location of offical state-certified recycling centers is governed by the requirement for $2 million volume grocery stores to have a center within one-half mile. These are called convenience zones. A center thereby can serve multiple stores. It may be paid a subsidy if volume is low.

To read about what containers have CRV and how to get your money back try reading this Primer

At the link below you can search for drop-off centers near you but these centers do not appear to redeem the deposit you paid:
Drop Off Centers

Or call 1-800-RECYCLE for locations.

There may be other locations, operating independently and for profit. For example, there are some vending machines outside the Stater Bros store in the center near Walmart off Vista Way and Jefferson Street.

Although not directly part of the question, one may wonder where to drop off paper and plastic grocery bags for recycling as these items are not governed by the bottle bill CRV. There are at least several locations to drop off plastic bags listed for the 92008 zip code. They include Albertsons in Carlsbad Village and a couple of Von's.

Albertson's
955 Carlsbad Village Dr
Carlsbad, CA 92008

Von's
2560 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92008

Von's
985 Tamarack Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92008

You can search for other plastic bag recyling locations at:
Search for Plastic Bag Recycling Locations

There are a couple of official recycing centers in Carlsbad

Liberty Recycling (shares location with Coast Waste Management)
5960 El Camino Real
Carlsbad CA 92008
(760) 929-9400
Map

NexCycle/Vons #343
985 Tamarack Ave
Carlsbad CA 92008
(909) 796-2210
Map

TOMRA Pacific Inc/Albertsons #6720
7660 El Camino Real
Carlsbad CA 92009
Map

Also try the link provided elsewhere in this thread for nearby locations in other cities